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March 24, 2009, 1:58 pm
Flag as Inappropriate Sammy  

I was in the doctor's office the other day and a drug rep was waiting to see the doctor. We got into a conversation and I asked him if he had any post it notes that I could have. He told me that all the drug companies had stopped giving out pens/sticky pads/perks like these to the offices. He said the only thing that they can give out now are samples to the doctors. I don't know if this was just this one company or if it is widespread. He made it sound like it was some regulatory agency that made them stop. Of course, I'm sure they are still doing the free cruises/lush conferences/continuing education sessions with lots of perks that the doctors get. There is a lot of money spent to do things like this and personally I would be glad to see it stopped and used for research instead.

I hadn't heard about this. I wonder if this pertains to all the drug companies or just that one. I haven't heard anything about the issue on the news, but I'm not suprised that I haven't. They may have had them stop just to save some bucks.

I have not hear of this either but I wonder if it has to do with something as simple as trying to cut costs?

That would make some sense especially right now in our economy.

All types of places are trying to save a buck but this seems kind of dumb. I mean the pens really get use around offices and it reminds people about them too.

That is interesting! I work a few days a month as a fill in for a physician, and he still seems to be getting a lot of stuff. He gave me a couple of pedometers last week, a few new pill cases, and of course the pads/pens- but I don't know how long he's had this stuff. I'm going to ask him if he's seen a reduction.

You know, I was in the doctor's office today and was trying to see if one of the drug reps that was there would give me an ink pen (I collect them from everywhere). He was from Astra Zeneca company and he said as of the first of the year that the companies were prohibited by a new federal law from giving anything except educational material to the offices. He even asked one of the other reps that had come in if she had any ink pens and she said the same thing he did before he even said anything to her about it. I was shocked. Of course, I did overhear him inviting the doctor to a dinner presentation by another doctor about one of his drugs and a study that the other doctor had participated in. (Nosy little thing aren't I)? ;)

This is interesting. It would not surprise me if costs are being cut by the companies in this manner. I do love to get the "freebies" from the pharmacy companies too!

It would be nice if they would drop the prices of the drugs now. But I don't think you will see that anytime soon. That would just be too much to ask! :)

Are more places doing this because there are other ways to get the same types of meds now (more so than the past, like with generics and the lowered pharmacy prices)??

I asked the doc who I work for sometimes and he said he's still getting a lot of freebies, but that he's seeing less sales reps come in the office in general. He used to have pharm sales reps in there every day and now it's more rare.

I would like to see them stop advertising drugs to the public. I think that this is something that needs to be advertised to the doctor only. I think it just increases the pharmaceutical companies revenues but it really doesn't do much for the patient. You need to be informed but I don't see that you need to know every drug that's available.

Actually, I'm sort of glad to see this. Maybe it will result in a decrease in drug prices. I agree with Ella also about banning advertising drugs to the public. I know we need to be informed but there are a lot of drugs out there that work just as well that don't cost as much as the latest thing.