ABSTRACT
The drug industry’s myths about their activities and motives have been repeated so often that they are widely believed by doctors, politicians and the general public. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry issued a new guideline to promote collaboration with doctors. The idea that public health and the drug industry have a common agenda is PR fiction, and the UK healthcare system at an ethical bottom level. PR material and collaborative agreements between doctors’ associations and industry associations propagate this myth. However, no matter what the drug industry says about working for patients, they have no more responsibility to oversee the public’s health than the fast-food industry has to oversee the public’s diet. The guideline is said to ‘Reflect the industry’s determination to ensure that relationships with healthcare professionals are based on integrity, honesty, knowledge, appropriate behaviours, transparency and trust.’
