Time to crack down on the real drug cartel

[wibble]

The amount of public money wasted on prescribed drugs is ridiculous.

 

People are dying because the whole system is set up to encourage doctors to get people on as many pills as possible.

 

Just like the banks, the drug companies are taking the **** out of the tax payer and should be put out of business.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8356423.stm

[jambos are go!]

The amount of public money wasted on prescribed drugs is ridiculous.

 

People are dying because the whole system is set up to encourage doctors to get people on as many pills as possible.

 

Just like the banks, the drug companies are taking the **** out of the tax payer and should be put out of business.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8356423.stm

 

Your example is flawed in that the it was the use of the drug and not the drug itself that was abused in order to subdue patients. Whilst I agree in part with your sentiments I cannot ignore the good that good medicine has brought to the world. Medical research is expensive and ongoing and has to be funded somehow be it taxes, sales or charitable donations.

[Stewart MacD]

I don't know what the system is like in the UK (any part of it) these days, but MJ is spot on regarding Oz.

Big Pharma plies doctors with all sorts of freebies, including "conferences" on the Gold Coast or at some casino resort. They also leave plenty product samples with surgeries so the GP can give one to a patient. Of course the patient comes back next week to say "It works, can I have a prescription".

 

GPs here get paid by the consultation:e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, so it's in their (financial)interest to see as many patients as possible in a session. Easy to write a script and wave goodbye.

 

My GP is old school (and from the Weege) and I've been with him for 30 years.

Has a chat if he's not busy and doesn't overprescribe.