Vets and Drug Companies

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Anthony Todd — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:03:53 GMT

Our policy on drug use and supplier is:

The vets tell "management", er, me, what they want to use and why; management then does the best deal on that drug.

The difficulty is, with 7 vets, we often get 7 different opinions usually unjustified apart from habit.

They are reluctant, in most cases to see reps. and I can see their point unless there is a new product.

Use and sales are sometimes the opposite of the vets' recommendations........

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:40:45 GMT

[quote user="Michelle Jones"] As a nosey competitor I would certainly be interested in seeing the feedback from this survey.

We've been carrying out a similar survey but isn't anywhere as in depth as this one however I will still be willing to discuss any interesting findings should anyone be interested.

Good luck with feedback on the survey, Rachel. [/quote]

Thanks Michelle,

it is the culmination of a very long journey. I can't wait to see the results.

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:39:02 GMT

[quote user="Jonathan Wray"] Will you be sharing the results of the survey with this list? Will you be sharing the results with the broader veterinary community? Will you be sharing the results with competitors?

I have been asked to contribute to another MBA thesis being done by the wife of an eminent VS. She had no industry backing, and no ambition to use her MBA beyond her interest in the practice. I received a copy of the results and have no problem with her keeping the results private. On the other hand you come with Virbac branding. What's your plan beyond the MBA?[/quote]

Hi Jonathan,

The primary reason for doing my MBA is self development, to enable me to have a broader platform of information on which to make better decisions for the company which I work for and for the customers that I deal with. I suggest that this is not dissimilar to the reasons why the wife of the eminent VS is doing her MBA.

It is a huge investment for me both finiacially and timewise and I am very grateful to Virbac for allowing me to take study days before exams and allowing me to use their facilities, laptops, printers and offices after hours to write and submit my assignments.

As Arlo has said throughout his e-mail, the majority of the results will be available to the whole industry, for the benefit of everyone. Please let me know if I can be of any further help.

kind regards,

Rachel

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Stephen Ashman — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:25:56 GMT

[quote user="Rachel Crowe"]Was there anything in particular which indicates that the questionnaire excludes assistants? [/quote]

Hi Rachel,

I think it was because rather than asking for an opinion alone it asks for opinion based on your current business activities for a lot of questions. Although I may have opinions on drug companies I cannot base this on any activity other than what I use clinically - I have very little influence on what the practice buys or does not buy; and although I may see reps at lunch meetings I have no dealings with them in a business sense (other than clinically/prescribing).

Steve

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Michelle Jones — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:11:49 GMT

As a nosey competitor I would certainly be interested in seeing the feedback from this survey.

We've been carrying out a similar survey but isn't anywhere as in depth as this one however I will still be willing to discuss any interesting findings should anyone be interested.

Good luck with feedback on the survey, Rachel.

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:25:07 GMT

I should add that if the survey produces strong results, i.e. defining what you want, I will be actively promoting them to the main drug companies. I mean, that's the whole point: to make sure the survey influences the way drug companies do business, for your benefit!

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:21:35 GMT

JGW, I'm going to jump in and answer this question, because I'm at my computer earlier than Rachel this morning!

The defining ethos of this site is free information-sharing, and I wouldn't have lent my support to this project if the bulk of it was not going to be made freely available to the members of this site (and since VetSurgeon is free to join, that means anyone in the profession, including Virbac competitiors).

My hope is that you'll find the results interesting, AND the results may help the industry as a whole provide vets with a better service, as I explained in the email (here, at the foot of this email, in the para headed "Background to the research).

Yes, there are some Virbac questions in there (the results to which may not be shared with competitors!). That seems reasonable enough to me, as Virbac has also supported Rachel's MBA.

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

J G Wray — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:34:14 GMT

Dear Ms Crowe,

Will you be sharing the results of the survey with this list? Will you be sharing the results with the broader veterinary community? Will you be sharing the results with competitors?

Regs

JGW

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:36:29 GMT

Hi Stephen,

I am really sorry to see that you think the survey is not aimed at assistants, I am interested to see if there are any differences between the way all veterinary professionals want to be communicated to. Was there anything in particular which indicates that the questionnaire excludes assistants?

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:04:34 GMT

Stephen, I don't think that's right. I'm sure Rachel wanted all vets to participate. I've just left a message for her about your post, and I'm sure she'll confirm very soon ...

Re: Vets and Drug Companies

Stephen Ashman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:58:58 GMT

I discovered half way through it's not really aimed at assistants.