Question

What strategies the pharmaceutical industry is using to create pressure on doctors to prescribe certain medications. How is it influencing the doctor-patient relationship? Please discuss and relate it to the theoretical models discussed in class.

Answer 1

The pharmaceutical companies promises personal benefits to the prescriber mainly to elevate the market shares.This is done where the medical representatives of the pharmaceutical companies have discussions about the drug and elaborating on the pharmacology and also by organizing various meetings where the prescriber is offered incentives or gifts .Sponsorship programs are also conducted.Therefore, this becomes an attractive option whereby the prescriber prescribes that particular drug for these personal benefits.

Concerning a doctor patient relationship; there are pros and cons.An advantage is that the newly advertised or marketed drug may have enhnced therapeutic effect and can aid a faster outcome of the treatment.On the other hand, these can also lead to irrational prescribing where the patient is administered with drugs which is not very essential in the particular condition.This can result in adverse effects or may worsen the health status over long run.