The pharmaceutical industry has agreed, as of 1 January 2009, to a voluntary moratorium on the distribution of free s0-called branded goodies to physicians. These include Post-It pads, pens, tongue depressors, etc. with drug names.

The code was drafted by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group in Washington.  It bars drug companies from giving doctors branded pens, staplers, flash drives, paperweights, calculators and the like.  While the move has its supporters and its critics, most agree that it is at least a good “first step”.  

To see which companies have signed on to the code, please visit here.