Table 2

Changes in industry payments to physicians between 2018 and 2020

Types of industry payments201820192020
Total*
 No of physicians350 520345 789267 463
 No of payments7 761 9867 492 7244 117 482
 Total payment value$1047 million$1115 million$626 million
Type of non-research payments
Meals:
 No of physicians342 178337 595254 448
 No (%) of payments6 915 047 (89.1)6 642 500 (88.7)3 710 716 (90.1)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$162 million (15.5)$163 million (14.6)$78 million (12.5)
Travel:
 No of physicians44 70945 45820 204
 No (%) of payments396 793 (5.1)422 708 (5.6)112 314 (2.7)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$127 million (12.1)$138 million (12.4)$31 million (5.0)
Consulting:
 No of physicians21 24223 43519 054
 No (%) of payments96 215 (1.2)99 859 (1.3)93 460 (2.3)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$290 million (27.7)$305 million (27.4)$240 million (38.3)
Speaking fee
 No of physicians21 94720 17216 317
 No (%) of payments174 745 (2.3)179 202 (2.4)128 550 (3.1)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$393 million (37.5)$421 million (37.8)$217 million (34.7)
Honorariums
 No of physicians381243313548
 No (%) of payments10 733 (0.1)12 782 (0.2)10 367 (0.3)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$27 million (2.6)$31 million (2.8)$19 million (3.0)
Others†
 No of physicians79 71876 43543 983
 No (%) of payments168 453 (2.2)135 673 (1.8)62 075 (1.5)
 Total payment value (% of main total)$47 million (4.5)$57 million (5.1)$40 million (6.4)

  • $1.00=£0.86; €1.00.

  • *Research payments, royalty, or license, and ownership interests such as stocks and partnership shares were not included in this analysis.

  • †Others include education, grant, gifts, entertainment, and space rental or facility fees.