Some Vermont lawmakers want to create an online database that provides residents with information about physician-pharmaceutical industry relationships, the Barre Montpelier Times Argus reports.
For several years, the Vermont Attorney General's Office has released a report detailing the amount of money medical field professionals receive from the pharmaceutical industry. However, that report has been criticized for not being complete or user-friendly.
Some lawmakers are seeking to amend a state law that set up the reporting system. The changes would include eliminating a trade-secret exemption that lets the pharmaceutical industry keep private the amounts of money and identity of doctors they give to.
Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin (D) said he supports changes to the state law that only would allow the pharmaceutical industry to keep private very limited information, such as donations to support academic research.
The Vermont Medical Society and the Vermont Psychiatric Association support the changes sought by lawmakers.
Opposition
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has said it would fight efforts to remove the trade secrets clause from Vermont's law (Barlow, Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 12/23).