Relationships with the drug industry: Keep at arm's length

The relationship between the drug industry, academia, healthcare professionals, and patients has reached an all time low and few doubt that it is in the interests of all parties to improve it. A recent report from the Royal College of Physicians attempts to define a path towards achieving a more productive relationship. Here we set out five contrasting views on what the ideal relationship between industry and prescribers and patients should be and what steps need to be taken to achieve it (doi:10.1136/bmj.b211, doi:10.1136/bmj.b232, doi:10.1136/bmj.b252, doi:10.1136/bmj.b252)