Drug Prices- Doctor's Perspective

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Nik
Friday, May 28, 2010 - 04:58

The doctor is an integral part of the healthcare system. He is the professional authority who diagnoses and prescribes drugs to the patients. In a manner of speaking, he "directs" the consumer (patient) of the drug market to buy a product of "his liking". The pharmaceutical companies thus try their best to convince the doctor to "like" their products. Any doctor will always strive to prescribe the product of highest quality to their patients to decrease their ailments and to gain their confidence.

The doctor is one of the most critical factors in the sale of prescription drugs. The doctor is usually made aware of the various products of different companies by medical representatives, who are trained market executives. They approach the doctors with prior appointment and explain to them about the company's product. The doctor if convinced will prescribe the company's product. So, the companies try to convince the doctor by giving various "offers" and "promotions". The doctors thus try to maximise these "benefits" by prescribing only such drugs.

An ideal doctor has a thorough knowledge of the various brands of drugs available in the market. He should prescribe the drugs which are affordable by his patients. That means, suppose a doctor has two patients, one is a middle class person and the other is a wealthy person, he can prescribe two different products for the same condition because the rich person can afford a costly medicine whereas a middleclass person cannot.

In India, the government takes steps to make essential drugs available to the needy by providing generic drugs in government hospitals and dispensaries and also encourages the doctors working with government institutions to prescribe the same to economically challenged patients. Recently, steps are being taken to promote retail pharmacies which sell only "generics" rather than "branded generics". The government has also started JANAUSHADHI shops which specialize in selling generics. Altogether, we may say there is now more awareness and concern regarding the prices of medicines.

In summary we can say that doctors in general would like the prices of medicines to be low. But they prefer to prescribe costly medicines if the patients can afford them. This is because at least some doctors believe that high cost is associated with high quality.

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Comments

kranthikumar's picture

kranthikumar

Fri, 05/28/2010 - 12:35

Dear Niklesh, This last line. "...his is because at least some doctors believe that high cost is associated with high quality." this is bit funny that even doctor believe that formula. Over all the blog is interesting.

Regards Kranthi http://www.pharmainfo.net/kranthikumar/biography

kammuluridass

Fri, 05/28/2010 - 14:46

Recent News Item : Jan 2 2010 of DECCAN CHRONICLE. New Delhi/Hyderabad, Jan. 1: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has imposed a ban on doctors from accepting gifts or travel facility from drug companies or the health care industry. The MCI, which has been considering a code for doctors on pharma gifts and travel facilities, has sought amendment to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation 2002 asking doctors not to endorse or participate in private studies on efficacy of drugs. They have also been told not to accept any kind of hospitality from pharmaceutical companies. City doctors welcomed the new guidelines. Breast cancer specialist Dr P. Raghu Ram says "cut practice" is common in every segment of the health care sector and it's high time this "unhealthy habit that's detrimental to patients" was curbed. "As a result of unethical practices like taking money for prescribing medicines, diagnostic tests (some of which may be unnecessary), employing people with the sole purpose of luring patients, 'shopping around' for the best doctor has become common". According to MCI rules, a medical practitioner may carry out, participate in or work in research projects funded by pharmaceutical and allied health care industries, but has to ensure that the particular project has due permission from the competent authorities. He also has to ensure that the research project gets clearance from an institutional ethics body. Welcoming the MCI code on perks to doctors by pharma companies, Dr P. Srinivas Reddy, president of AP Government Doctors' Association, said, "There's no obligation to accept gifts, if pharma companies give us quality products at reasonable rates. Doctors do prescribe medicines if their quality and efficacy is good." Dr Srinivas, however, feels that "maintaining a professional relationship with pharma companies is essential." Dr G. Manmohan, assistant professor, Osmania Medical College, argues that there's no harm in accepting small gifts like prescription pads and pens as a token of remembrance. "But doctors must say no to exorbitant and costly gifts," he said. The MCI guidelines further stipulate that "in dealing with pharma and allied health care industries, a medical practitioner shall always ensure that there shall never be any compromise either with his or her own professional autonomy or with the autonomy and freedom of the medical institution where he or she is working."

Kammuluri Dass

Nik's picture

Nik

Mon, 05/31/2010 - 06:02

Dear Sir, Thank you for sharing such an important piece of information.
Regards, Niklesh Rao V ATHARVANA