It is nice to see a member of the NDP proposing a concrete and specific policy change [“Adrian Dix: Finding evidence for prescription drug reform at the movies”, web-only]. This is not only needed but expected from our government’s Opposition.

However, I find it hard to believe that having twice as many academic detailers as exist now—18 instead of the current nine—could any more effectively counter drug-company propaganda when Big Pharma has 700 reps visiting doctors in B.C. on a regular basis.

A change in approach by the nine existing academic detailers should be the first line of attack. Detailers could choose to provide a steady stream of unbiased drug information—sent via e-mail, website reference, or hard copy as needed—in lieu of doctor’s visits. This would give doctors the tools they need to become educated on a drug’s true effectiveness.

If the detailers already do this, what is the use of having twice as many? If it’s to increase one-on-one contact with doctors, what more use is a visit from an academic detailer every six months instead of once a year, when a drug-company rep is in a doctor’s office every week?

> Catherine Lovering / Vancouver