For the first time in at least a decade, the nation’s consumers are trying to get by on fewer prescription drugs.
As people around the country respond to financial and economic hard times by juggling the cost of necessities like groceries and housing, drugs are sometimes having to wait.
“People are having to choose between gas, meals and medication,” said Dr. James King, the chairman of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a national professional group. He also runs his own family practice in rural Selmer, Tenn.
See also this report on the buying trends of shoppers as noted by Walmart:
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE49K94K20081022
And here in DC, Tysons Corner, the preeminent shopping mall, just fired Santa Claus
One easy solution: stop direct to consumer advertising. In the eight or so short years that we have had it, the advertising budget has overtaken the research budget in the pharmaceutical industry. That is insane. We all pay for the Viagr@ commercials via higher drug costs.
Without health care (as of Oct 31) I may have to cut back on my blood pressure med. It costs $50 at Wal-Mart with insurance. Should be interesting. 🙂
Jim E. <><
robroy, great call!!!
I have generally been able to streamline therapy for patients to minimize the cost of prescription meds with no adverse impact on clinical outcomes. Having said that, prescription drugs remain prohibitively expensive, and many simply cannot afford them. Robroy makes a very good point. Other forces are at play as well. The sad thing is that visits to me are covered far better than the drugs the patients need in order to stay well. Something has got to give.
Recommended reading:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17244
The Truth About the Drug Companies By Marcia Angell