March 20th, 2009

Reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center next month will start enforcing a ban on the delivery of samples by drug company representatives to doctors’ offices in its 20 hospitals.

The April 1 ban, announced a year ago, does not prohibit distributing samples and vouchers to patients. It ends regular sales and delivery visits by pharmaceutical reps.

The policy is meant to eliminate perceived or actual conflicts of interest between UPMC providers and drug companies. UPMC banned gifts and meals to hospital personnel by health care companies more than a year ago.

…

A computerized system run by a private firm, MedManage Systems, will replace sales reps’ visits. It allows doctors to order samples that would be shipped to physicians’ offices.

Read more at the Tribune-Review.