All three gubernatorial candidates see defects in Massachusetts’ gift ban, notes a State House News Service report outlining the views of Democrat Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker and Independent Tim Cahill.

That means the ban on pharma company gifts to doctors, passed by lawmakers in 2008, could soon either be removed in the next legislative session, as Baker and Cahill would do, or changed to parallel prevailing PhRMA guidelines, which is Patrick’s preference. Critics say the ban stymies education, and restaurants have balked at the loss of revenue from pharma dinners. The ban was nearly repealed during the most recent session.