Some are still helping those in the poverty levels, but the study indicated that more above the poverty level benefited from RX samples...BD
WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Insured and wealthy Americans are more likely than needy patients to get the billions of dollars in free drug samples distributed by pharmaceutical companies to win patient and doctor loyalty, a study released on Wednesday said.
Free prescription samples are popular with doctors who want to try new drugs, and the pharmaceutical industry contends that such samples also help the low income and the uninsured.But the study of prescription use of nearly 33,000 U.S. residents during 2003 found the neediest are least likely to get free samples. Critics said the samples and representatives steer doctors and patients to the priciest drugs, and spur use of prescriptions for ailments not originally intended or tested. Similarly, of all sample recipients, 72 percent had income above 200 percent of the federal poverty line, while 28 percent had incomes below that level.
0 comments :
Post a Comment