Health · Pharma & Biotech · 2 days ago
Review links drug company gifts to less appropriate prescribing
Researchers reviewed studies involving millions of doctors and other prescribers.
They found a link between drug company gifts or payments and more frequent, less appropriate, and potentially more costly prescriptions.
The review does not prove that company gifts caused doctors to change what they prescribed.
The findings matter because a less suitable medicine may offer fewer benefits, cause more side effects, or be unnecessary.
A Cochrane review linked contact with pharmaceutical companies to less appropriate, more frequent and potentially more costly prescribing.
The researchers analyzed data on millions of prescribers across 93 studies, 88 percent of them conducted in the United States.
The review found that gifts and payments were associated with prescribing patterns, and that more company meals were linked to a greater likelihood of prescribing the company’s drugs.
The review did not assess harms to patients and relied on observational studies, which cannot prove that company promotion caused changes in prescribing.
Pharmaceutical companies have said contact with doctors helps them share information about treatments, while some doctors say gifts do not influence their prescribing.
- Who
- Researchers with the Cochrane Collaboration reviewed prescribing data; the review’s lead author was Barbara Mintzes.
- What
- The review linked pharmaceutical company promotion, including gifts and meals, to less appropriate, more frequent and potentially more costly prescribing.
- When
- The article was published on October 9, 2026. The review’s publication date is not stated.
- Where
- The review included studies from several countries; 88 percent were conducted in the United States.
- Why
- The researchers examined whether contact with drug companies was associated with doctors’ prescribing. The sources do not state a single specific reason for conducting the review.
Review researchers
Pharmaceutical companies
Prescribing effects
Review researchers
The researchers linked company promotion, gifts and payments to less appropriate prescribing.
Pharmaceutical companies
Companies have said contact with doctors helps ensure physicians know about the latest treatments.
Influence of gifts
Review researchers
The researchers said more free meals were linked to a greater likelihood of less appropriate or more expensive prescribing.
Pharmaceutical companies
Some doctors say accepting gifts does not influence their prescriptions.
Overall, when doctors have more contact with drug company promotion, prescribing tends to become less appropriate, more frequent, and more expensive.
The more free meals a doctor receives, the more likely they are to prescribe less appropriate or more expensive drugs.
Researchers analyzed data from 93 studies on prescribing and pharmaceutical company promotion.
The Daily Mail published its report on the review.
- Studies reviewed
- 93
- Prescribers covered
- Millions of physicians and other prescribers
- Studies conducted in the US
- 88 percent
- Study author
- Barbara Mintzes
- Review organization
- Cochrane Collaboration
Sources
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