An inquiry into associations between leading physicians and the drug industry in Finland

The purpose of the present study was to investigate an indirect marketing method of drug industry: the associations between the leading physicians and the drug industry. 337 Finnish physicians were defined as key-physicians on the basis of their formal positions in 1974. Their associations with the drug industry in 1974 were investigated. 41% of the key-physicians had some associations with the drug industry. Those physicians who held many positions as key-physician had more relationships than those having fewer positions. The medical teachers had the highest frequency of relationships. But also those in the National Board of Health who had control functions over the drug industry or distributed drug information, had relationships. The most common form of connection was a membership in the administrative or scientific board of a drug company. The frequent connections between the medical elite and the drug industry may have important influences on the medical practice and health policy.