AMNews: March 23, 2009. Doctors increasingly close doors to drug reps, while pharma cuts ranks ... American Medical News

In the March 23, 2009 AMA News, a consulting firm reports that the heyday of the pharma detailer may have already peaked and is headed into decline:  "At its peak in 2007, the American pharmaceutical industry fielded 102,000 sales reps, said Chris Wright, managing principal for the consulting firm ZS Associates' U.S. Pharmaceuticals Practice. Drugmakers have slashed the number to 92,000 since then, and ZS projects the number will fall to 75,000 by 2012 at the latest, saving the industry $3.6 billion."

According the article and the survey, fewer physicians are spending less time with the detailers.  More types of providers are requiring advance appointments.

The article and survey reports that "[p]hysicians' openness toward visits by pharmaceutical company detailers varies by practice ownership and size.

	Refuse to see	Require appointments
Practice size
1 to 2 doctors	14.3%	32.5%
3 to 5	16.7%	36.1%
6 to 10	23.1%	45.0%
More than 10	44.0%	45.5%
Practice ownership
Non-hospital	22.1%	37.8%
Non-health system	22.3%	37.5%
Hospital	31.2%	44.6%
Health system	34.7%	52.0%

Source: "Physician Access: U.S. Physicians' Availability to See Drug and Device Sales Reps," SK&A Information Services Inc., released February"

The article also reports significant decreases in detailing staff.  "Experts estimate the U.S. pharmaceutical sales rep force eventually will be cut 25% from its 2007 peak of more than 100,000. Here are some of the biggest layoffs announced in the last year.

Drugmaker	Sales rep cuts
GlaxoSmithKline plc	1,800
Merck & Co. Inc.	1,200
Wyeth	1,200
Schering-Plough Corp.	1,000
Sanofi-Aventis	650

Source: News accounts"

via AMNews: March 23, 2009. Doctors increasingly close doors to drug reps, while pharma cuts ranks ... American Medical News.