The Tennessean reports: Vanderbilt Medical Center has decided to stop doctors, faculty members and others who work on campus from accepting meals or gifts from the drug industry in a bid to reduce the companies' influence on patient care and trim spending on drugs (the drug industry spends $25 billion a year on promotions to influence patients and doctors who write prescriptions). The plan will also preclude drug companies from sponsoring or attending conferences or continuing medical education classes on Vanderbilt's campus.
Its latest policy applies to the more than 400 pharmaceutical representatives and about 1,300 device and equipment representatives that frequent the medical center.
Vanderbilt's plan, however, does not include penalties for violaters.
The new conflicts of interest policy is set to be phased in by July 1.
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