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5 Shocking Stats About Doctors
Nina Kim | NursingLink
#2: Doctors Accept Freebies From Big Pharma
When patients get prescriptions from doctors, they probably assume the doctors are prescribing them what would be best for their conditions. But medical professionals know that the extent to which those prescriptions are influenced by pharmaceutical companies can be fairly high.
On January 1, 2009, the pharmaceutical industry voluntarily agreed to stop giving freebies, like Zoloft soap dispensers and Viagra pens, to doctors. But drug companies still give free drug samples and continue to pay doctors tens of thousands of dollars to use their products. In 2008 alone, they spent nearly $16 billion in free drug samples to doctors.
The companies also spent more than $6 billion on “detailing” — an industry term to describe the sales activities of drug representatives, like providing meal-time presentations or personally visiting doctors’ offices.
With all this courting of doctors by pharmaceutical companies, it’s rather unsettling that 94% of doctors have accepted some kind of freebie from a drug company.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine and IMS Health, a health care information company
On January 1, 2009, the pharmaceutical industry voluntarily agreed to stop giving freebies, like Zoloft soap dispensers and Viagra pens, to doctors. But drug companies still give free drug samples and continue to pay doctors tens of thousands of dollars to use their products. In 2008 alone, they spent nearly $16 billion in free drug samples to doctors.
The companies also spent more than $6 billion on “detailing” — an industry term to describe the sales activities of drug representatives, like providing meal-time presentations or personally visiting doctors’ offices.
With all this courting of doctors by pharmaceutical companies, it’s rather unsettling that 94% of doctors have accepted some kind of freebie from a drug company.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine and IMS Health, a health care information company
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maryellen001
about 3 years ago
30 comments
DOCTORS ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE US.. MOST DO NOT SMOKE I CAN TELL YOU THAT, BUT JUST LIKE THE REST OF US, WE ALL OR MOST STRUGGLE WITH OBESITY
maryellen001
about 3 years ago
30 comments
OH COME ON, PREVENTING PREGNANCY IN A TEENAGER NOTHING WRONG HERE, AND ALL THE DRS AT PLANNED PARENTHOUD? SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING, BUT ALWAYS INFORMED OF ALL THE COMPLACATIONS
maryellen001
about 3 years ago
30 comments
VERY TRUE
maryellen001
about 3 years ago
30 comments
SO THEY SHOW PRESENTATIONS TO THE OFFICE STAFF AND BRING LUNCH, AND SUPPLY THE OFFICE WITH FREE SAMPLES FOR THEIR PATIENTS TO HELP THEM, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM, JUST IN CASE THEY CAN'T TOLERATE IT FOR WHAT EVER REASON, IN THE 80'S THEY GAVE DRS TICKETS TO BIG SPORTS GAMES, VACATIONS ETC, THAT HAS STOPPED WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IS NOT WRONG
clisshee
about 3 years ago
12 comments
While I find this article to be good, I also find it to be somewhat one sided on certin things. Number 2 in particluar is bothersome to me. Yes, I have seen MDs accept free drug samples, pens, lunches etc, and yes I feel that pharm companies should spend that money on drug research instead, however I have seen MDs put the free drug samples to good use. I have seen quite a number of doctors give those free drug samples to families that have little money and can't afford the prices of the RXs. And while I have never witnessed a MD prescribe a contraceptive to a adolescent with our counseling a parent, I feel that might be a case by case situation.