Eli Lilly To Go Public With Payouts To Doctors

Eli Lilly, one of the world's largest pharma companies and the largest maker of psych meds, today announced that it is going to publicly reveal payments to doctors for consulting and speaking on behalf of its drugs beginning next year. The move comes in advance of enactment of a proposed federal sunshine law on the matter.

It's nice to see Lilly step up on this because such payments have certainly twisted how research and marketing are done in the US and, at a minimum, the public has a right to know what doctors are being paid what monies to shill for what drugs.

If you think such payments are small and inconsequential, check this recap of recent revelations from the New York Times:

"Minnesota and Vermont are among the few states that have been keeping a record of those payments. Between 1997, when Minnesota began its database, and 2005, drug makers made payments to more than 5,500 doctors, nurses and other health care workers in the state, totaling at least $57 million, the state found. Another $40 million went to clinics, research centers and other organizations. More than 20 percent of the state’s licensed physicians received money from drug makers.

"Vermont reported last year that from July 2005 to June 2006, 81 drug manufacturers spent a total of $2.25 million on 'fees, travel expenses, and other direct payments to Vermont physicians, hospitals, universities and others for the purpose of marketing their products.'"

I look forward to seeing the details of Lilly's payouts.