Wealthy Patients more likely to get freebies

Have you ever wondered why your doctor never gave you free samples of those fabulous diet pills you see the stars touting? Well, wonder no more. It seems that it’s officially a proven fact that a doctor’s wealthiest patients get the best (and possibly only) drug samples available in doc’s office.

Contrary to claims by the pharmaceutical industry, it is usually wealthier and insured patients who receive free drug samples, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Health Alliance and published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Researchers used data from the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. A total of 32,681 U.S. residents were surveyed at home, and asked various questions about topics including prescriptions and drug samples that they had received from doctors.

Though those patients at or below poverty level (which is $18,400 per year for a family of 4) need the samples more, they are least likely to get them. Could this possibly be because the poverty stricken patients will be less likely to buy the full prescription- making the doctor (who may or may not have received a kick-back for his efforts at selling for the pharmaceutical company) and the drug maker less likely to make money?

The rest of the article states:

Many health companies and hospitals have begun to question to practice of drug companies providing free samples to doctors, citing issues of conflict of interest. But associations like the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America have said that giving out samples helps doctors serve poorer patients who have trouble affording prescription drugs.

The current study found that doctors were indeed trying to help poorer patients with free samples, but that poorer and uninsured patients were less likely to see a doctor in the first place.

“Our study supports the idea that doctors are trying to target the neediest patients,” said researcher author Sarah Cutrona, “but the uninsured are less likely to get their care in the office and be that person who walks through the door.”

Of course the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America aren’t going to agree with the study. And the fact that poorer patients are less likely to seek medical attention seems to be an issue too, but the fact is that the wealthier patients are those receiving the free meds. There is something really wrong with that picture- no matter what your excuse is.

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