This is a future reality that all organizers of CME programs should contemplate. It is unrealistic to expect that pharmaceutical firms will contribute large sums of money to our programs, and not try to influence the contents of the program. Attending sponsored CME events and accepting funding for travel or accommodation for CME programs were associated with increased prescriptions of the sponsor s products. Worst of all, attendance at presentations by pharmaceutical industry speakers was associated with nonrational prescribing. A CME program which has lectures by employees of pharmaceutical firms is dangerous.
Most doctors are on their guard when a product is detailed by a drug company representative.
A conference does not, of course, become ineffectual or untrustworthy by the very fact of industry sponsorship. The following questions should be answered about any sponsored event. Delegates at a CME program organized by a city unit of the IAP were probed about the sponsorship issue. Obviously, we doctors have become used to having other people pay for our continuing education, even though it is an essential part of our professional needs. This attitude forces the organizers to turn to the drug makers, perhaps at the cost of having a motivated and biased CME program.