Doctors and Drug Companies

[txdon]

So tell me again why do the Doctors need to be paid by the drug companies?

To find out how much YOUR Doctor received from drug companies here is the link.

https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/search

 

[CCWKen]

They're paid to promote certain drugs. Especially new drugs and old drugs that are about outlive their patent. They also receive free samples for trial and error treatment. Personally, I would do my own research on any drug suggested by your doctor. Many have side effects that are more dangerous than the ailment being treated such as renal and heart failure as well as causing lupus, Crohn's disease or stroke. Watching some of the ads on TV and paying particular attention to side effects scares the heck out of me. I almost have to laugh that such drugs are accepted by the FDA. Fortunately, I don't have to take any prescription medications. I hope to keep that up as long as possible. I'm 65 and take an Aleve in the morning for arthritis. That's it!

 

[txdon]

The GPs I looked up are not too bad but the Cardiologist WOW!!!!:shocked: No wonder some cannot afford to promote a WFPB diet. No money in that and they could loose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Doctors get the $$$$$$ and we get the side effects, I guess thats fair, they did spend all that time in MED School with no classes on nutrition so they are dependent on the Drug Co in more ways than one now.

 

[Wagtail]

Meh, it's no different to agronomists working with/for a seed company. Even an 'independent' agronomist leans towards certain products which can be, shall we say, encouraged to be recommended.

 

[txdon]

Meh, it's no different to agronomists working with/for a seed company. Even an 'independent' agronomist leans towards certain products which can be, shall we say, encouraged to be recommended.

But do they get $300,000.00 a year for that recommendation? Maybe it just to smooth over the side effects. Sure wish the drug co would refund the customer for the side effects instated of the Dr.

 

[mddorange]

A friend of mine who has worked as a pharmaceutical representative for many years said that a lot of the pharmacy companies are cutting way back on how much they provide to individual doctors now with Obama Care because the real money is in influencing the new medical corporations that most doctors have been forced to joined. Example, get Humana to accept a drug and all the doctors associated with them have to use that drug. That is what is called "Formulary." Check every Insurance company, Medical corporation and even the Government and you will find the word "Formulary" being used as to what drugs you can get. That is where the real money is for Pharmacies these days. Most pharmaceutical representative have been told to forget about individual doctors and only lobby the corporations. That is also why there are a lot less pharmacy reps now.

As for those new drugs everyone is worried about side affects from, when I was being treated for cancer and was hid away in "Hope House" for many months, some pharmaceutical reps from a couple different companies, brought us food and provided entertainment. One thing that they pointed out was that the FDA is so much more strict now on new drug testing to prevent some of the past mistakes, that such every drugs that we take for granted now like aspirin could not even pass FDA approval today.

 

[Wagtail]

But do they get $300,000.00 a year for that recommendation? Maybe it just to smooth over the side effects. Sure wish the drug co would refund the customer for the side effects instated of the Dr.

I understand what you're saying, Mate. And I wholly confess that I have no idea of the medical services/system that you in the US live with... just thinking about it makes my 'nether region' contract!

The last time (Mar-Apr this year) I visited my Sister in Canada, she & the BIL were desperate to get onto a pharmaceutical benefits scheme (He's a truckie/she's a homemaker) and I was confused. Australia has a wonderful federal scheme for practically everything that's out there for everyone... so I was taken aback when she informed me that it's social for medical only. I didn't have a clue 'cause my entire working life in Canada (since 17yo) had been in the Navy = everything's covered, don't worry about it.

Same situation in Australia... Navy until I retired 3 years ago. So when I did retire I joined a private health plan (Navy Health, naturally ), which I pay about A$150 a month [private hospital/surgery/imagery/dental].

Look, honestly, I'm not being smug or having a go at my US TBN mates but, how can you live with the huge pending medical costs that are hanging over you like Damocles' Sword?

 

[Ed of all trades]

My wife and I are both caretakers for a family member with autism, that operates on a 1 year old level so it takes both of us. We have not had insurance for years and could not get it if we wanted to. We both have health problems but we just do the best we can and avoid the Dr all we can. One visit to the Dr costs us over $100 and that is if they do no tests. Most of my problems came from BP meds so I have gone on a whole food low fat vegan diet and that has helped a lot. "How do we live with the huge pending medical costs?" We just trust the Lord he is my med insurance. Ed