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Drug Samples: Benefit or Bait?
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To the Editor.—The recent discussion1 of drug samples and their use by physicians in their practices prompted me to share my observations. In partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, clinicians are given a largess of sample medications. Although the pharmaceutical industry spends an estimated $10 billion each year on drug promotion, little has been written about the (economic) impact on an individual practice.2-3
In an effort to determine the volume and subsequent retail cost of drugs provided to a busy practice—1 board-certified allergist, 1 nurse practitioner, 3 offices, for a total of 10 office days per week—I surveyed pharmaceutical representatives associated with our practice to provide an inventory of medications given to the practice throughout the previous calendar year. If data were not provided for all 12 months, the information was prorated accordingly.
Eleven pharmaceutical companies (Abbott, Astra, Boehringer Ingelheim, Glaxo Wellcome, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc Rorer, Schering, . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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