PhRMA allegedly kills Bill in California

An attempt in the state of California, USA, to restrict gifts from drugmakers to physicians to less than $250 looks set to fail after a proposed law (AB 2821) failed to clear the review stage in the Assembly's Health Committee. According to the California Progress Report, which favors elements of the Democratic party, the failure to carry the legislation to the next stage was the fault of Democrat members of the Committee, seven of whom failed to attend or abstained. The entire Republican party's representation on the review panel rejected the proposals, meaning that nine Democrats were needed. In the event, only five did so.

The California Progress Report claimed that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) "smothered" AB 2821. The same source claimed this is 10% of current practice for many drug companies. In addition to the ban on more expensive gifts, all items valued at $50 or more would be required by law to be disclosed by physicians.

The California Medical Association did not take sides on the legislation, arguing in favor of transparency but questioning some of the studies which claim that physicians are manipulated by drugmakers' gifts into altering their prescribing habits. Such conclusions question the integrity of the entire medical profession, the CMA believes.