Drive Thru Prescribing

If you need any more proof that Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising around pharmacy works, all you had to do was read the research from USA Today, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard School of Public Health.  (see article)

• $4.8B spent on drug advertising in 2006 (up from $2.6B in 2002)
• 1/3 of Americans ask their MDs about an advertised medicine
• 82% of those that ask say their MDs recommend a Rx…BUT only 44% got the drug they asked about

Of course, the question is whether this is good or bad.  Are we a sick population which needs more medication?  We are already the most medicated population ever with a growing generation that will not know anything other than being on medication.  Or, are we finding  new reasons to take medication which are driven by advertising?

That is why we have a system of checks and balances.  Patients feel sick or see an advertisement.  They speak with an MD about it and determine a treatment plan.

Of course, the system fails when those that need medication can’t get it due to financial issues.  The article mentions that:

• 29% of Americans have not filled a prescription in the past 2 years due to cost pressures
• 23% have cut pills in half or skipped doses to make their prescriptions last longer
• And, 41% of families said buying drugs is sometimes a problem due to cost.