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Undue influence of drug firms
Doctors may be hooked on the medicine show (Peter Evans, Opinion,7/8), but the extra problem is that the Federal Government is hooked on the pharmaceutical industry. Excellent information necessary to prevent doctors and patients being unduly influenced by the marketing skills of these highly successful multinationals is available from organisations such as Dr Evans indicated. Such organisations even save the government money. But despite the government's claim that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is unsustainable and the evidence of savings by the National Prescribing Service, the government refused in its last budget to invest any more money in the NPS or in educating doctors appropriately. The pharmaceutical industry spends at least $750 million a year on marketing to doctors and patients. Information websites and occasional excellent publications have a tiny impact when competing with such skilled marketing as described by Dr Evans. The government is not even trying to compete.
The results: continued claims that the PBS is unsustainable, calls for increased
co-equitable co-payments for drugs, decreased availability of drugs (unless you
have a credit card), and a less healthy Australia. The pharmaceutical industry
continues to be a market leader. And its donations to political parties remain a
worthwhile investment. Are there politicians who care?
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Doctors Reform Society of Australia home page]
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