Do Drug Company Payments to Doctors Influence Which Drugs They Prescribe?

[rangerrebew]

Do Drug Company Payments to Doctors Influence Which Drugs They Prescribe?

Conflict of interest is a concern, but regulations and reporting requirements have increased transparency.
By Elaine K. Howley, Contributor Aug. 31, 2018, at 9:00 a.m.
 

Although most doctors are incredibly honest, ethical people who only want to help patients, physicians are human and potentially vulnerable to influence from outside. Money is a prime suspect for undue influence, and it's probably no surprise that pharmaceutical companies spend billions annually to influence physicians and other drug prescribers to write more prescriptions for their particular products.

Pharmaceutical marketing goes well beyond the half dozen commercials you might see during the nightly news. Ian Larkin, associate professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, has researched how pharmaceutical companies influence doctors' prescribing habits, and says that much of the marketing budget for many of these companies is directed towards direct contact with doctors. "Pharmaceutical companies are spending something like double the amount that they spend on research and development [of new drugs] on marketing to doctors." He says this is completely separate from the advertisements that we see on TV. That kind of marketing to consumers accounts for "only about 20 percent" of how much these companies spend on marketing their drugs, he says.

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-08-31/do-drug-company-payments-to-doctors-influence-which-drugs-they-prescribe

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Patient Advocacy Groups Take In Millions From Drug Makers: Is There A Payback?

https://khn.org/news/patient-advocacy-groups-take-in-millions-from-drugmakers-is-there-a-payback/

[Applewood]

My doctor is more influenced by insurance companies and what they will pay for.  For example, I've been taking one diabetes drug that has worked well for me.  Then earlier this year, the insurance company would not pay for that drug, but instead insisted on a cheaper drug.  Well, the cheaper drug was like taking a placebo.  I said I would be willing to pay full price for the drug that works -- it's an old school med that is now not all that ecpensive -  but I was told I can't do that.  After going 'round and 'round with the insurance company and even my doctor interceding for me, I said the hell with it and I now get the drug from Canada.  Costs less too and I don't have the insurance company hassles.