Explanation of U.S. healthcare costs.

[senseinobaka]

ManusJustus said:

senseinobaka said:

I can assure you that a pharma company paying a doctor to perscribe their drug over a competing one is 110% illegal. I've seen (remember I work for pharma) sales reps dismissed immediatly for inappropiately handing out low value gifts, such as a meal.

As for generics. The active ingredients are 100% chemically equivalent per FDA regs. This means that the forumula will produce the same effect. Often times Clinical Trials show little to no difference in safety and efficacy. As for delivery systems, and I don't want to get too involved, you are refering to patented technolgy that can control release over time for longer effects or they help target specific areas. An example is new generation Histimine blockers, they are pretty much the same thing as last gen histimine blockers except they don't cross the Blood Brain Barrier, so you don't get drowsey. But the bottom line is that generics without the delivery systems are just as effective but may have to be taken more often due to not being controlled release or may have more annoying side effects, but if you cant afford the name brand.. then tough s###, get what you can afford or get a better job.

Drug reps often persuade doctors to use their drugs, often resulting in gifts which are not illegal.  It can only be punished by a doctor's supervisor if they choose to do so or if it is hospital policy (which I have never heard of).  For instance, at the medical school and hosptial I am familar with, medical students are punished for accepting gifts from drug reps but doctors who work for the hospital cannot be punished.

I'm not just talking about prescriptions as there are many methods to treat a single ailment such as surgery, rehab, medications, etc.  If one doctors opts for surgery and one doctor opts for medication and they both treat the ailment, then neither have done wrong even though the doctor who preformed surgery probably got a lot more money from the patient (or the patient's insurance).

Concerning prescriptions, you and I may understand the details of prescription drugs, but the average consumer does not.  That means that the average consumer does not have the knowledge to make prescription drug decisions for themselves and thus cannot be held accountable (or called stupid by you) because they were prescribed one drug over another.

You will have to define gifts. Legislatively, the term used is "gift of nominal value." Or a gift of such little value that it could not be considered coercive, fraudulent, or a kickback. Are you really talking about a pen that may say Zoloft? Is the doctor bribed by the clicky top?

I have no way of comparing the profitablity between the different ways of treatment. I have no what the costs are and what the prices are since hospitals can legally hide that information.

The average consumer is privy to the same information I am privy to. All that's needed is to read it or discuss the different treatments with your doctor. And if they don't do this then yes, they are stupid. If I'm putting a dangerous chemical in my mouth, like any sane person, I'm reading and educating myself first.