Trading or Bartering of Drug Samples
Oct 1995 Council Report
Nov/Dec 1995 Pharmacy Connection

Trading or Bartering of Drug Samples
Council approved a statement concerning the practice of pharmacists purchasing or bartering drug samples from physicians. Such activity is not appropriate for these samples and is considered professional misconduct by both the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Accordingly, a statement is published in the periodicals of both Colleges (see below)

DRUG SAMPLES: PURCHASING OR BARTERING
Council approved a statement concerning the practice of pharmacists either purchasing or bartering drug samples from physicians:

"Drug Samples (or Clinical Evaluation packages) are provided to physicians by the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry for the purpose of evaluating patient response prior to issuing a full prescription. These packages may also serve as an early-starter supply pending the filling of a prescription. They are not furnished for the benefit of the physician other than for the aforementioned proper purposes. The selling or bartering of drug samples by physicians is inappropriate and constitutes professional misconduct.
It is also the position of the Ontario College of Pharmacists that the purchase or barter of drug samples by pharmacists from physicians constitutes professional misconduct. Accordingly, the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, respectively, advise their professional members that arrangements between physicians and pharmacists for the trading, bartering, sale or purchase of drug samples are considered by both Colleges to constitute professional misconduct in Ontario.
The medical and pharmacy colleges request that their members honour this interprofessional consensus."