The practice in which drug manufacturers cooperate with doctors is common throughout the world. Leading doctors conduct seminars organized and paid for by pharmaceutical companies, and often this helps health professionals improve their qualifications. On the other hand, there is a risk of conflict of interest. A few years ago, the ProPublica research center examined the activities of 150,000 doctors in the US and concluded that doctors who receive income from cooperation with pharmaceutical companies are more likely to prescribe more expensive drugs.
According to the State Health Inspectorate, drug manufacturers in 2017 have allocated 3,505,368 euros for the support of Latvian doctors. The International Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies (SIFFA), as well as the pharmaceutical companies themselves, publish data on their expenses for conducting lectures, consultations and other services. It should be noted that some companies allow doctors not to disclose their income from cooperation.
