Drug, device companies' payments to teaching hospitals may spark conflict of interest, study suggests

Teaching hospitals received $832 million in payments from drug- and devicemakers for purposes other than research in 2018, according to an analysis published Sept. 8 in Health Affairs.

The study looked at 1,281 teaching hospitals, 91 percent of which brought in money from drug- and devicemakers for royalties, continuing education, consultations, speaking fees, space rentals and gifts. One-fifth of these teaching hospitals received more than 90 percent of the $832 million drug- and devicemakers gave in 2018.