Tonight on abc730: A former marketing manager for medical device companies says company reps would go into operating theatres ostensibly to give surgeons technical support, but with the prime aim of selling more products. P_McCutch
Private Healthcare Australia says this practice is pushing up the price of surgery
"When I was working as marketing manager for two different companies, I ran an internal marketing campaign which was called: 'Would you like fries with that?'" Mr Towart told 7.30."If the surgeon happens to need a bone graft substitute, we want to upgrade them and sell them our expensive bone graft substitute on top of the expensive medical device.
"Selling devices is a relationship game, so the best way to build a relationship with a surgeon is to support them by being in all of their cases regardless how technical they are," he said. But the organisation representing operation nurses says in its experience, it's not always so clear cut. She said nurses would always protect the patient, but added that she had heard of rare cases where reps crossed the line.The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons says it doesn't believe these practices are widespread.Australian Private Hospitals Association CEO Michael Roff says the presence of device manufacturers' staff in-theatre is determined by the type and complexity of the surgery.
The MTAA's Ian Burgess denies this and says the real issue is excessive profiteering by private insurers.
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