Big Pharma a huge influence on prescriptions

Doctors tend to prescribe drugs that pharmaceutical companies promote to them and patients end up paying more but not always getting the most suitable medicines, researchers reported in PLOS Medicine.

The report found that doctors who accepted briefings or other information from drug companies were more likely to prescribe those products. None of the studies found that doctors prescribed a drug less often because of promotional or informational materials.

This week, the investigative journalism group ProPublica, along with several news organizations, reported that seven big drug companies had paid more than 17,000 U.S. doctors many thousands of dollars to talk to other doctors about the companies' products.

Steve - this should not come as a surprise to any readers of this blog.