Since this will inevitably compel CME organizers to accept financial aid from pharmaceutical firms, it is incumbent on the Indian Academy of Pediatrics to discuss the issue and formulate appropriate guidelines. This relationship has a component of obligation to respond, which may sway our decisions regarding patient treatment. The company s ultimate goal in this relationship is to increase sales and profits. The meetings could be held at a much lower cost by choosing less expensive venues. CME organizers who agree to such exotic and expensive sites play into the hands of the sponsors.
Physicians have a duty of self improvement.
To provide the best possible care to their patients, they must add constantly to their knowledge and skills. Their participation in CME programs is a fulfilment of this duty. Drug companies participate in these programs to increase prescription support for their products, and they ensure this in a number of ways gifts to delegates, dinner receptions, sponsoring the travel and stay of delegates, and even accompanying persons. Accepting fund-ing for travel or accommodation for CME programs has been seen to be associated with increased prescriptions of the sponsor s products. No doctor would prescribe an obviously incorrect drug to a patient, but it is quite possible that the fund giving company s product would be chosen over a cheaper or slightly superior competing one.