Doctors under perfusion

Marketing, "doctors under perfusion" financial hole in the Safely ... UFC-Que Choisir (continued) Here is an article by Rouba Naaman, published on the site Novethic end of January. The author comments on the study and releases of "UFC-Que Choisir" and highlights interesting aspects of the study of the five classes of drugs whose prescriptions were reconsidered. The article also contains comments from some leaders of the consumer association, as well as some representatives of pharmaceutical companies and the union of these, LEEM. Ironically… To see the great solidarity between companies and doctors as soon as someone points a finger of blame… There are only innocents… Money invested in marketing, in continuing training and other combines to influence doctors form the vast majority of the costs of the pharmaceutical industry. All this at the expense of the search for truly innovative new medicines. But it is an investment firms and waiting, like any commercial enterprise, not just depreciation costs, but also the return on investment, maintaining profit margins and increasing unparalleled in other industries. And it's ironic because, after all, this financial effort, the communication department of LEEM washes his hands like Pontius Pilate and designate physicians as solely responsible for the waste… It is the one who decides who pays. But in cases of failure, it is neither seen nor experienced… Well, after all, the physicians who are buying need only invest a little of this money in a comprehensive insurance in the case - very little probable - where they ask each of the accounts, beyond general denunciation of a process that is a secret of Polichinelle. Dogs bark and the caravan moves… "The UFC accuses the pharmaceutical industry to influence doctors' "Issued on January 15, 2008, the new study of the French Union Consumer spending on drugs bothers the pharmaceutical companies. The UFC-Que Choisir argues that between 2002 and 2006, hundreds of millions of euros could be saved, equal quality of care, if the information provided to doctors was better. This finding is in line with a confidential report of the General Inspectorate of Health Affairs (IGAS), which already criticized the techniques of promotions and information for pharmaceutical companies to the attention of doctors. One billion euros over five years. According to the UFC-Que Choisir, is the amount that could be saved by limiting unnecessary prescriptions between 2002 and 2006. "And yet, we have studied that 14% of the requirements of the city," says Christophe Le Guehennec, Special Adviser to the health UFC-Que Choisir. This is already the second study of the organization denouncing the high prices of drugs that are not always innovations, but that pharmaceutical firms masquerading as such. Numerous reports Senate, in 2006 in particular, are already interested in these requirements unreasonable, in the same way that a report of the Court of Auditors in September 2007. Very complete and more confidential, the report by the Inspector-General of Health Affairs (IGAS), dated August 2007, was never officially released but was posted on the Internet site Atoute.org. All sources argue the same thing: the prescription is often influenced by the medical visits pharmaceutical companies. In the study, none of the names mentioned. "We have no legitimacy, and our aim was not to accuse a laboratory more than another," says Christophe Le Guehennec. On the other hand, despite the declarations of Christian Lajoux, president of the drug companies (LEEM), which claims that "the UFC makes no reference figures on the medical examination, the figures put forward by the study are impressive. Among the five classes of drugs studied, the case of antiplatelet our attention. Prescribed after an accident cardiovascular, or prevention of heart disease, these medicines are increasingly being used: antiplatelet spending grew by 88% in four years. For many patients, and yet, they substitute a small dose of aspirin, twenty-seven times cheaper and just as effective. According to the UFC-Que Choisir, it would have avoided nearly 350 million euros in spending on health over five years. And this applies to all classes of drugs studied: a total of nearly 200 million euros could be saved per year if prescribers had been better informed. Misinformation and misuse Various studies report that all information for doctors on new drugs is inadequate and incomplete. Some practitioners would have tended to prefer a drug to another, even if it proves to be more costly without being effective. "The doctor seeking unbiased information will have great difficulty in finding it. Even Vidal is funded by the laboratories, "says Christophe Le Guehennec. The UFC-Que Choisir denounces the single origin of the information doctors, the medical visits promotional laboratories. France is one of the countries where the number of visitors Medical is the highest compared to the number of practitioners in town. Nearly two-thirds of the cost of pharmaceutical promotions are devoted to these visits. "Visitors are from the medical advancement, but also of information, awareness of progress," said Christian Lajoux to Quotidien du Pharmacien. From awareness, but not always to medical advances, according to the study of the UFC-Que Choisir. "Today, the doctor chooses the medication he prescribed in his name, and not really depending on the class of drugs which it is part," says Christophe Le Guehennec. Hence, in some cases, misuse of drugs most recent. The president of LEEM seen in this study "the will to challenge the recognition of the therapeutic progress." The organization defends itself: it does not negate the progress made by some medicinal innovations, but denounces the use of excessive and sometimes inappropriate thereof. To reduce these unnecessary requirements, the report recommends the development objective information to doctors, for example by establishing medical visits public, under the auspices of the High Authority Health (HAS) in addition to those firms. "Disarmament promotional" In addition, UFC-Que Choisir supports the idea of IGAS to limit the share of laboratories promotional spending to 4% of their turnover, compared to 12% on average at present, and to reduce the volume of medical visits. That is what the agency calls "promotional" disarmament. "We expect an increase in taxes on the promotion and advertising in the trade press. But we already know that we accuse the companies to force them to reduce the allocation for R & D, "says Christophe Le Guehennec. Faced with heavy accusations and figures of various reports, the silence is deafening pharmaceutical groups. "No personal response" at Sanofi-Aventis, nothing more at Lilly. Just like Novartis, laboratories who are willing to speak on the topic linked to the LEEM proclaimed spokesman exclusive of the pharmaceutical sector. "France is the only country where the medical examination is both controlled" denies Stephanie Fleurot, communication of LEEM, which said that the medical examination will be certified in all laboratories by July 2008. In any case, "it is not us who prescribe medications" she adds.