Big Pharma. Bad Communication.
3 February 2009, by pillgirl
IN THE PREVIOUS POST, I shared my fears of Big Pharma’s Big Contribution to the Eastern Garbage Patch resulting in a zillions-strong proliferation of health-destroying nurdles. Now, in the interest of not letting my imagination run away with you too, I’d like to give my nightmare scenario a bit more context.
First, let me point out that I can’t vouch for the accuracy of what the drug rep from the big Big Pharma company told me about her employer throwing away all the promotional swag that wasn’t gifted to doctors before the revised “Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals” kicked in last month and put an end to the much-maligned drug company practice of feting physicians with freebies.
God wouldn't have had to make up all those Tower of Babel languages, if he’d taken Global Communications cues from a certain big Big Pharma company.
I tried to get confirmation through her company’s press office, but I think they might be busy. I’ve placed at least a dozen calls over the past few weeks, but each time the same thing happens: After four or five rings, a recording comes on and says that my call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system and the mailbox belonging to Global Communications is full. I’m offered the option of staying on the line for further assistance, which I take. Soon another recorded voice comes on and tells me to “Please hold. Someone will be with you shortly.” Then, after a couple of intra-system rings, a third recorded voice says, “We’re sorry, but there is no attendant available at this time.” From there, my call is routed back to the optimistic “Please hold. Someone will be with you shortly” recording. Which is again followed by the less promising, and not at all apologetic sounding, “We’re sorry, but there is no attendant available at this time.”
Or at any time, it seems. Every call I make to this big Big Pharmaceutical company ends up being bounced between these two conflicting messages ad infinitum — or ad the futility of trying to reach a human being becomes apparent to me once again.
Meanwhile, I’ve also put in calls to a number of other drugmakers, asking whether they have purging policies in place. Only AstraZeneca has responded so far. I’ve decided to post its entire statement here, partly out of gratitude at receiving a response at all and partly in an (okay, meager) attempt to offset my not exactly thorough reporting.
Leslie Potts
Communications
AstraZeneca
As you know, under the revised PhRMA Code, some promotional items previously approved for distribution to healthcare practitioners and their offices no longer meet the defined standards for “educational items.” This went into effect January 1, 2009. However, we began the process of reducing our inventory of promotional items over a year ago in anticipation of this potential change in the PhRMA code: we began to order lower quantities and began tapering shipments to representatives in the field.
Now that the code is in effect, to responsibly deplete our inventory of non-educational items for HCPs, their offices and patients, AstraZeneca is making every effort to ensure these items are offered to individuals and groups that can utilize them.
For example, office supplies are now offered as a replacement to employees through our online office supply ordering system. Additionally, we have selected items that may be appropriate for individuals in need and are in the process of offering these items to American Red Cross and AmeriCares to help the people they serve. Additionally, we are offering appropriate promotions items to various national and local organizations through our current partnerships and alliances, as well as through our employees and the local community centers and programs they support in their volunteerism and personal donations.
We are committed to responsibly depleting our supply of non-educational items to appropriate recipients (non-hcps), with a deliberate effort not to destroy useful items that could be used by groups or individuals who can use the items. We anticipate we will complete this process over the next quarter.
Stay tuned for updates as the calls from other drug companies roll in, which I’m certain they will …
