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Love and Other Drugs

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I wasn't going to blog today because I really had nothing to say. But this afternoon some representatives from Danone, an Infant Nutrition Company came to talk to us at the hospital about their Cows-and-Gates Infant Formula. Actually they tricked us into that talk. The notice said it was a Continuous Medical Education about 'Preterm Feeding'. Me, being in Paediatrics Department was quite interested in attending such a teaching...but noooo, it was just some suited up Sales-reps telling us why Danone is better than Nestle.

It reminded me of the movie 'Love and Other Drugs'. It is a hopelessly romantic movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway set in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Gyllenhaal plays the charming, lady's man drug rep and he is really good at his job. Instant success strikes when he is given the wonder-drug 'Viagra' to sell. You can imagine how it ends.

The DVD cover

The Pharmaceutical Industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. So obviously it is closely linked to the health industry. Their drugs directly affect our patients' outcome. But it seems their competitiveness in their industry confuses doctors' choices for prescriptions. The reps literally come chasing you as you leave the ward with pens, umbrella's, notebooks and even food sometimes! I must admit, it makes one feel like a rock-star sometimes.

Finally just wanted to share with you this really cool picture of what a Media Medic (me) represents. There's a nice article from LinkedIn about how the iPad helps health workers in patient care and education.




It is after all, 2011.

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