Transparency demanded in doctor-company relations

Medical experts and academic societies are calling for rules to enforce transparency in their relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the industry's funding of academic activities.

But medical conferences and marketing are necessary and even beneficial and shouldn't be banned, experts said.

Given the authorities' investigation of GSK China last month in a case of suspected commercial bribery, many have denounced multinational drug companies' funding academic activities, calling it a way to bribe physicians.