Table 4.

Advantages, disadvantages, and implementation considerations of policy options: 2. Restriction.

Advantages	Disadvantages	Implementation considerations
• Easier justification for accepting gifts that enhance medical performance or knowledge and are of moderate value to the public (2) • Helping poor patients through the distribution of free drug samples (2, 8) • Updating doctors and familiarizing them with new technologies and drugs through interaction with pharmaceutical representatives (19) • A helpful policy for the short term and before the implementation of the prohibition	• Lack of consensus on the appropriateness of gifts and different valuations of a product or service in different environments and societies (2) • After the free medicine runs out, the physician's prescription is usually of the same brand, which leads to an increase in costs (2, 8) • Misappropriation of information prepared by the industry (2, 8). • Requires strict monitoring of the implementation of restrictions	• Setting a threshold above which the payment should be declared a COI (33). • Drafting transparent and clear policies regarding the acceptance of gifts and payments • Establish COI committees at the ministry and medical universities level to formulate exemptions and monitor their implementation according to local conditions.