> The Open Payments Search Tool is used to search payments made by drug and medical device companies to physicians and teaching hospitals.
> A federal government website managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Not in every country...
Yes, this kind of practice has now been outlawed in many developed countries, but there are tons of indirect ways a doctor can get "favors" from a company. Free lunches, invitation to seminars, scholarships, speaking fees as you mention (which can be pretty, pretty generous), publications, reviews, advisory boards, etc...
So, let's not be naive. Patients should be aware of all this kind of things because they can clearly influence doctors in their choice of drugs.
So instead they invite you out to expensive dinners which is of course during off hours.