Learning about new medicine is continuing education for physicians. It is their job. Having a third party paying them or even just offering dinner to them so they can do their jobs is a huge conflict of interest.
Further, they are getting a completely biased education on these new drugs in addition to being "taught" by pharma reps who often do not even have a BS in life sciences...so they are very limited in being able to relay nuanced medical information.
Not directly related, but my sister studied to become an audiologist some 15 years ago (in Norway). I was absolutely stunned at the corporate sponsorship - full on weekend trips with a nice hotel room and paid drinks and fun activities (plus a conference). Not once, but many times during the studies, for all students, sponsored by different companies (I'm not sure if they were competing companies, but you'd think so..)
There must be a lot of money in hearing aid for that to make financial sense.. Is/was this type of sponsorship common for students in other areas, medical or elsewhere?