Comments on: Does The Orencia Promise Signal New Help For Pain Patients Or A Disturbing Trend?

By: Kathi Harris

Kathi Harris — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:25:37 +0000

The first doc I worked for, we reached a point where we (his wife and I–nobody else would work for him…LOL) would make the reps sit out in the waiting room, and didn’t let doc know they were there, until we were done with scheduled patients. He’d sit there all day with them, if he could!!! Way more fun to him, than dealing with patients.

By: Bonnie Boots

Bonnie Boots — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:17:52 +0000

Last spring I quit a new doctor after my first visit because she delayed my appointment for 25 minutes while she finished a fruit smoothie a pharmacy rep had brought in as a bribe to see her. They sat and chatted and ate in full view of me–the ONLY patient in the whole office, and now I know why! When you can influence a doctor with a cheap fruit drink, imagine what you get for a trip to Disney World! So I’m glad perks to doctors are being discouraged, but also concerned that the focus is now on “bribing” patients.

By: Kathi Harris

Kathi Harris — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:27:26 +0000

Hi Bonnie,
I worked for doctors for several years. One doc took all the freebies he could get from the drug companies….a trip to Disney World for his family, various conferences around Florida, nice meals out, etc. The other doc I worked for wouldn’t even see reps when they stopped by the office–wasn’t interested in what they were peddling, didn’t care about the freebie stuff at all.
I agree, drug costs are one of the reasons our health care costs are so high.
I also believe that ‘Big Pharma’ and the AMA have the FDA and congress by the “ears” (hey, I’m trying to be family friendly, here!lol)…..they have WAAAAY too much power and influence in this country!
I also believe insurance companies, AMA and Big Pharma should be more open to some of the alternative therapies for many diseases………but it ain’t gonna happen….no money in it for them.

By: Bonnie Boots

Bonnie Boots — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:24:24 +0000

Drug companies have both skyrocketed the cost of health care AND, through lobbyists, kept non-prescription means of care from getting proper research and recognition in the U.S. With the economy in a shambles, Americans simply can’t afford to let this situation continue. A short search online shows that Swiss, German and Swedish people all get national health care that includes what Americans have been taught to regard as “alternative” therapies. As a result, they show better cure and recovery rates for many health issues such as stroke.

By: Charles Ericson

Charles Ericson — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:46:29 +0000

This being the first I’ve heard about the practice, I can’t yet call it a trend, but it does disturb me. I believe that a large part of our country’s out-of-control medical costs is due to high prescription drug costs. I think that if “Government” is going to take “insurance premiums” from us by force (Medicare, etc.), then it ought to use some of that money to research less costly methods of pain/disease mitigation (how about “Preemptive Intervention” through diet & lifestyle?); especially if they happen to be working in other countries, in the current day! And $500 as a “co-pay”? Guess I’d better step up my personal research now, while -my- RA is just an occasional nuisance!