Prescription Drugs And Conspiracy Theorists

[princerupe74]

A seemingly increasing amount of people question the prescribing of drugs by doctors, asking if its really necessary in a lot of cases and whether the doctors are benefitting financially by doing so. What are your beliefs on that front?

[boxtops]

Pasta and bednobs are both correct. GPs receive a large part of their income on a points system - the Quality Outcomes Framework - where they have to report on the number of patients registered on their lists under a range of conditions, what they are doing about it, how many are controlled by medication, etc. In addition, every prescription which is filled by a pharmacist is returned to the prescriptions pricing authority, who reports back to the PCTs who currently monitor all prescribing patterns - anything untoward would be quickly picked up.
However, in the past this was not the case - drug reps used to be able to fund doctors in all settings to go on expensive freebies. The new ABPI regulations firmly stopped all that - reps can't give out pens with a drug name on these days! We still work with the pharma industry but it has to be strictly non-promotional, they are not allowed to stand up and talk about their product, sponsorship has to be much more philanthopic and educational these days.
To answer part of the OP's question - yes, if the drugs are prescribed and patient results are improved, the GP practice will receive improved annual income. It would be a rare case these days, IMO, where an individual doctor gets away with taking backhanders from the industry.

[woofgang]

I would add that GP"s these days are under heavy pressure NOT to prescribe if its avoidable as the GP prescription budget is usually heavily overspent and heavily monitored.
I have also noticed an increase in interest and advertising of herbal and other complementary remedies where prescription drugs are painted as nasty dangerous things where the cure is worse than the disease versus "safe" complementary treatments that only cure with no side effects....and the jolly old internet has increased this a lot, loads of very trustworthy looking websites with loads of bogus science.

[LazyGun]

@woofgang - Couldn't agree more wrt complimentary and alternative medications. The pharma industry might have some problems still - not registering all clinical trials, only do comparison studies with placebo rather than the best currently available drug out there and all that - but at least they do have the virtue of having trials and data and some evidence in support of their efficacy.

Boxtops certainly outlines the current situation very well, as best as I am aware. And for those interested in health, drug prescription etc - do yourself a favour and take a look at Ben Goldacres book, Bad Pharma - quite an eye opener....And if you, like others, think it worthwhile, go sign the petition :)

http://blogs.trusttheevidence.net/peter-gill/all-trials-registered-all-results-reported/130109202

[woofgang]

signed and shared LG, amazed its needed.

[EDDIE51]

I thought doctors had to prescribe by the generic name not the brand name of a drug now ?

[boxtops]

You'll find that the pharmacy may well dispense the generic drug, IMO, even if a brand name has been given on the prescription.