Vermont doctors get $2.9 million cash, gifts from drugmakers

The nation's pharmaceutical makers spent more than $2.9 million on Vermont's doctors, hospitals, and universities to market their products in the last fiscal year, according to a report issued by the state attorney general's office. The report shows 78 companies spent the money in the year ending July 1, 2008. By law, the companies have to report their spending on consulting and speakers' fees, travel expenses, gifts and other payments to or for physicians, hospitals, universities, and others authorized to prescribe drugs.