Report: Drug makers spent $2.9 million in Vermont

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A new report by Vermont’s attorney general says the nation’s pharmaceutical makers spent more than $2.9 million on Vermont doctors, hospitals and universities to market their products in 2007 and 2008.

That’s down slightly from the prior year, but Attorney General William Sorrell says he’s not sure if the drug companies are tightening their belts or if they want to avoid public scrutiny for the expenditures.

The 18-page report, released Wednesday, shows that 78 companies spent $2,935,248 in Vermont in the fiscal year ending July 1, 2008. Of that, 25 doctors and nurses got more than $20,000 in cash or benefits from the companies, 10 got more than $50,000 and one psychiatrist took in $112,000.

The disclosures don’t cover the costs of advertising.

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