#pharmfree

Pay-for-delay. That's what this is, and it's a practice that's been happening for years now, and it's slowly becoming the norm. So much so, that apparently big pharma doesn't see the need to hide behind smokes and quiet deception to do this. There needs to be much more coverage on something like this.

It basically works just like this article describes - giant companies paying off smaller companies to delay the release of new generics so that they can squeeze every last single ounce of profit from this blockbuster drug. And who loses out? The patient. The people who need this drug. It puts an undue burden on the health care system straining it more than it already is.

This is yet another reason why (1) health care costs are high and (2) our health care system has made a turn for the worse. Corporate greed and irresponsiblity. What can we do to change it? We can increase the knowledge about such practices.

Write your representative. Spread awareness. Get together and stop this.

Interns, Residents and physicians, here I come! 

"This is a closed annual meeting of resident physician leaders from around the country. This year, the convention will focus on the topic of residency work redesign and ways residents can get involved in improving their clinical education and training. ... I wanted to let you know that you have been added to this exclusive medical student invitation list because as a medical student leader, you have gone well beyond what is required of you by your medical school curriculum in focusing on advancing ideas which improve patients' lives. ... You are also invited to attend a networking reception on Saturday with the CIR national executive board."

The 2010 AMSA PharmFree Scorecard will be released tomorrow! Check out www.amsascorecard.org and see what your school got!

As the future of medicine it is extremely important that we compose ourselves in a way that will put patients before profits. Greed costs lives. Medical Schools serve as role models for future physicians - their actions influence how we live our professional lives. By accepting pharmaceutical gifts and allowing such actions on campus grounds, they inherently show us that it is OK for us as future healthcare providers to do the same, without knowing the amount of influence even a single pen will do to our prescription habits. In the past the medical profession has "policed" themselves concerning such outside influences. It has led to the blatant payment of extravagant vacations, dinners, and a multitude of trinkets, gifts and the like to physicians. Specific studies have been performed on the undue influence of this type of advertising on physicians - right down to pens. They've even mentioned that a majority of physicians believe themselves to be immune to such advertising, but that their peers are much more easily swayed. 

Will I be the type of person who will make exceptions for my ethics and beliefs? Will I compromise who I am? Or will I be the person who will stand up for my beliefs? 

The right choices are sometimes the hardest choices to make.