Drug companies to reveal grant practices

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - For years, the nation's largest drug and medical device manufacturers have courted doctors with consulting fees, free trips to exotic locales and by sponsoring the educational conferences that physicians attend.

Those financial ties don't have to be disclosed in most cases and can lead to arrangements that some say improperly influence medical care.

Now, under the threat of regulation from Congress, the two industries promise to be more forthcoming about their spending. A dozen of the nation's leading drug and device makers have told Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, that they have plans or are working on plans to publicly disclose grants to outside groups. The details will be provided on each company's Web sites.

Watchdog groups say the companies are trying to head off legislation that would require public disclosure of their giving.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_go_co/drug_companies_doctors