ABC

A Newcastle University report shows pharmaceutical companies are spending $60 million a year wining and dining Australian doctors.

Researchers reviewing the compulsory disclosure of pharmaceutical hospitality found about 600 industry-sponsored events are held each week around the country.

Newcastle University lecturer Ray Moynihan says the findings raise concerns about bias.

"If a sponsor is paying for the food and wine, other influences will flow with it," he said.

"That means that our GPs and our specialists are being educated at events where there could be a pro-drug bias - a bias in favour of the latest and most expensive medicine."