Comments on: New Pharma Code: No Pens, But Lunch Is Free

By: Pharmacy School Admissions

Pharmacy School Admissions — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:05:38 +0000

Wow, people have already started selling these promo pens on ebay. They may make great collector’s items in the future..

These pens, as innocuous as they may seem, have had a large subliminal effect on prescribing patterns.

By: Larry Schmitt, M.D.

Larry Schmitt, M.D. — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:16:18 +0000

To “Rep”, 10/6. The pharmaceutical companys provide free samples costing anually, more than $10 billion a year and pay you and your peers more thatn $5.5 billion a year to distribute them and promote “new” (read more expensive and commonly no more effective) drugs. Please, please provide a documented annual value of the “samples and free medicines to the impoverished” and the doughnut hole needy, in your opinion, pharmaceutical companies provide. You won’t be able to find a figure you can trust. Why, because the bookkeeping by your companies is so intentionally obfiscated that even the IRS is often in the dark about those expenses and income.
The research is not costly to your companies as most all of it is done by academics and NIH. Your companies are marketers, no more nor less. Most non-pharm. companies, large and small, in the US are content with a profit of 3.5% or more. Your employer reaps 18% profit. Most of that from senior citizens, the chronically ill and the government. The PhRMA code is a start, but given the overarching power of PhRMA, it is a crumb.
My dear rep, what the media reports is just the tip of the iceberg and it is not just opinion. Until physicians and the public recognize this, we have a long way to go.

By: Just a point

Just a point — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:27:52 +0000

I would like to pause for a moment to grieve the loss of the pen.
Where will I get my pens?
Will I have to buy them?
And what about those pads of paper?
I NEED these things…
(may need help with this pen fetish–is there a medication for this?)

By: Rep

Rep — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:16:37 +0000

Does anyone realize that it is not the gov’t that has imposed Pharma Code, but instead some of the top pharmaceutical giants. No, we do not feel that a pen influences a doctor to prescribe a medication, but perception seems to be everything in this industry.
I often feel damned if I do and damned if I don’t….every patient groans the moment that we walk in the door. Most often, we get at most several minutes of the doctor’s time but spend most of the time doing exactly what you are doing in the lobby….WAITING! The reason that we do lunches and dinners is that with the busy schedules that doctors keep, that is often the only time where we can sit down and talk about the efficacy, side effects, potential drug interactions and formulary restrictions that our products have.
Do you realize how much money these companies spend on providing samples, and free medications to the impoverished, and to patients in the Donut Hole of Medicare Part D. I know that drugs are expensive and that is frustrating; however years and years of research goes into each one of these drugs in order to bring it to market. When you go out and get a generic you are taking a drug that has not only ever been tested for efficacy….it only has to contain 80% of the main ingredient of the brand it is being substituted in its place.
These large companies are really trying to do the right thing. The media just blows everything out of proportion and instead of reporting fair balance we hear a lot of opinion.

By: ConvenientObserver

ConvenientObserver — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:55:08 +0000

Notice the wording in the press release…It suggests that give away items will not be allowed by reps during visits to physician offices. However, many of the reps that call on my office have suggested that they will still be able to provide these items at professional meetings and likewise, will also be able to provide restaurant meals to physicians while in attendance at meetings. Have others of you heard similar things from the reps that call on you?

By: Move to France

Move to France — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:51:27 +0000

The best way to solve this “so called problem” is to get the Gov. involvment out of the Pharma Industry. The only reason the gov has any say is Medicare and Medicaid. Just think how much they will screw it up if Obama, God help us all, is elected.

By: Optionsmaster

Optionsmaster — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:59:55 +0000

This Phrma guidelines are a BIG joke.
Lets close the real pharma money dumped to the lobbyist groups and “donations” to politicians.
HMO’s already dictate what drugs your doctor can and can not prescibe. All Doctors are degraded to a bunch of brainless monkeys.

What’s the solution? Cap profits on HMO’s and stop “donations” to political groups. Take the “excess” profits and treat the uninsured and pay the healthcare professionals who are actually caring for the ill.

By: Oh, spare me

Oh, spare me — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:51:05 +0000

Ah, It’s good that you’re looking out for Chinese firms and the welfare of their employees.

By: Eggboy

Eggboy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:16:11 +0000

Many of the makers of the pens, mugs, etc. are now going to be forced to close shop or shut down completely. That means people who once had a wage and prescription drug benefits are now going to be without. Don’t forget the truck drivers that have to ship those items or the warehouse with all of it’s workers to store the items.

Thank God our legislators are really looking out for the little guy. These people and these laws are a joke.

By: M

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:18:36 +0000

I would echo “Move to France”… If you hate BIG PHARMA sooooo much, just deny your branded pharmaceuticals. That will stick it to them.. Screw those greedy BIG PHARMA people. I must say Reality and Observing have excellent points. I hope you’ll both change your behavior on your next doc appointments and go completely generic for all of your prescriptions… The best way to create change is to stop participating…. By the way, who writes the prescriptions Doctors or BIG PHARMA?