SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the how-will-we-find-the-newest-ED-drugs dept.
AP reports that the American Medical Association has called for a ban on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs and implantable medical devices, saying they contribute to rising costs and patients' demands for inappropriate treatment. According to data cited in an AMA news release, ad dollars spent by drugmakers have risen to $4.5 billion in the last two years, a 30 percent increase. Physicians cited concerns that a growing proliferation of ads is driving demand for expensive treatments despite the clinical effectiveness of less costly alternatives. "Today's vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially-driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices," said AMA Board Chair-elect Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. "Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate."
The AMA also calls for convening a physician task force and launching an advocacy campaign to promote prescription drug affordability by demanding choice and competition in the pharmaceutical industry, and greater transparency in prescription drug prices and costs. Last month, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report saying that a high cost of prescription drugs remains the public's top health care priority. In the past few years, prices on generic and brand-name prescription drugs have steadily risen and experienced a 4.7 percent spike in 2015, according to the Altarum Institute Center for Sustainable Health Spending.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:41PM
I really *doubt* the doctor is *expecting* you to ask him about shit you see on tv.
Why wouldn't he? Everybody does it these days, so the doctors have learned to expect it.
They've also learned to deal with it, and dig in their heels or give in, depending on their training or the patient's degree of persistence. Given two drugs of reasonably close performance, doctors will often prescribe according to patient's wishes.
You also have to consider that some doctors do make money prescribing certain drugs [consumerreports.org]. The good doctors won't let this cloud their judgement. But you know some will. (You can look up your doctor on that page).
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:50PM
Correction:
You can look up doctors from Links on that page:
http://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/ [propublica.org] (This even finds meals paid for by medical vendors, or symposiums attended for free paid for by drug companies).
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.