Drug companies' educational grants are 'well targeted marketing.'

Drug companies are accused of spending millions sending doctors on all expenses paid trips to medical conferences according to the Guardian newspaper in the UK. Consumers International, who run the Marketing Overdose campaign, described the practice as 'highly effective, well-targeted marketing.'

The article follows a survey of drug companies' disclosure by Consumers International that showed that none of the major drug companies has made a global commitment to disclosing their educational grants. Some US based companies have committed to disclosing their US grants following pressure from US senator Chuck Grassley. In Australia drug companies give details of their spending to a public register.

Consumers International wrote to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) on 2 July calling for greater disclosure of drug companies' financial support for medical organizations, educational events and financial arrangements with health care professionals, but has yet to receive a response.