The Latest from the NPA
NPA LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN: Rx: VOTE!
The nation’s community health centers, clinics, and hospitals have a unique ability and responsibility to empower patients to participate in the democratic process and advocate for vital health reform. The NPA is organizing volunteers at clinical sites across the country to help with voter registration. Learn more and get involved at Rx: VOTE!
COVER PENNSYLVANIA'S UNINSURED
The NPA’s Pennsylvania Action Network is fighting for coverage of ALL Pennsylvanians. Learn more and sign a letter of support for critical pending legislation.
NPA LAUNCHES UNBRANDED DOCTOR CAMPAIGN
Join our network of UNBRANDED DOCTORS--physicians committed to reducing the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on our profession!
The NPA Supports the Physician Payments Sunshine Act
NPA Executive Director Dr. Jean Silver-Isenstadt joined representatives of the American Medical Student Association and the Prescription Project in briefing Capitol Hill staff members on the importance of S.2029, The Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Learn more about the act and why it’s important.
New In Our Reading Room
- Drug Industry to Announce Revised Code on MarketingThe pens, pads, mugs and other gifts that drug makers have long showered on doctors will be banned from pharmaceutical marketing campaigns under a voluntary guideline that the industry is expected to announce Thursday.
-- NYT, July 10, 2008 - NPR Series Examines Health Care Systems in Five European NationsNPR, in series titled "Health Care for All," recently examined the health care systems in five European nations, which have lower health care costs than the U.S. and provide a higher quality of care on several measures. Links available.
-- Kaiser Family Foundation, July 10, 2008 - NEJM Editorial: "Why Doctors Should Worry about Preemption"A leading drug company may be poised to win a landmark legal victory next fall. If...Wyeth, prevails in a case soon to be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court ... drug companies could effectively be immunized against state-level tort litigation....
-- NEJM, July 3, 2008 - Medicaid reaches more in MarylandMaryland is patching together expanded coverage for the low-income uninsured
-- Baltimore Sun, July 1 2008 - Key opinion leaders: independent experts or drug representatives in disguise?The pharmaceutical industry routinely taps well-paid and highly respected doctors to act as sales people for their medications, according to an investigation published in the British Medical Journal last week.
-- British Medical Journal, June 21, 2008 - Report Finds 32% Increase in Drug Industry Lobbying Spending in 2007The pharmaceutical industry spent $168 million on lobbying in 2007, a 32% increase over the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Center for Public Integrity....
-- Kaiser Family Foundation, June 25, 2008 - Report Issued on Probe Into Improper Payment Disclosures by Three Harvard PsychiatristsThree well-known psychiatric researchers from Harvard Medical School may have violated federal and educational institution regulations by failing to properly disclose drug industry payments and other conflicts of interest....
-- Kaiser Family Foundation, June 9, 2008 - Survey of Medical Schools Is Critical of PerksMost medical schools in the United States fail to police adequately the money, gifts and free drug samples that pharmaceutical companies routinely shower on doctors and trainees, according to a ranking by the American Medical Student Association.
-- NYT, June 3, 2008 - Bill would let pharmacies sell medical recordsPharmacies in California would be allowed to sell confidential patient prescription information to third-party marketing firms working for drug companies under a bill expected to be voted on Thursday by the state Senate.
-- San Francisco Chronicle, May 28, 2008 - S.E.C. Backs Health Care BallotingThe Securities and Exchange Commission, shifting its position, has told companies they must allow shareholders to vote on a proposal for universal health insurance coverage.
-- NYT, May 27, 2008