Interaction between pharmaceutical companies and physicians who prescribe antiretroviral drugs for treating AIDS

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Given that Brazil has a universal public policy for supplying medications to treat HIV and AIDS, the aim here was to describe the forms of relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical companies that produce antiretrovirals (ARVs). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in the state of Sao Paulo. METHODS: Secondary database linkage was used, with structured interviews conducted by telephone among a sample group of 300 physicians representing 2,361 professionals who care for patients with HIV and AIDS. RESULTS: Around two thirds (64%) of the physicians prescribing ARVs for HIV and AIDS treatment in the state of Sao Paulo who were interviewed declared that they had some form of relationship with pharmaceutical companies, of which the most frequent were receipt of publications (54%), visits by sales promoters (51%) and receipt of small- value objects (47%). CONCLUSIONS: Two forms of relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians who deal with HIV and AIDS can be highlighted: facilitation of professionals' access to continuing education; and antiretroviral drug brand name promotion.