Re: antibiotics:side effects of vancomycin, metronidazole and money

Erm.. I think that you,ve missed the fact that Ireland became an independant Republic in 1921, so a large body of that post is outside my remit. However, the paragraphs:

'The British Medical Journal last month devoted an entire issue to probe the relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies.

In a strongly-worded editorial headed "No more free lunches", the BMJ concluded that doctors and drug companies are "entwined in an embrace of avarice and excess, an embrace that distorts medical information and patient care".

The BMJ found evidence that drug companies influence doctors' prescribing habits, either through discussions with sales representatives or through sales drives dressed up as medical education. It quoted a British research group that found that doctors who have frequent contact with drug representatives are more willing to prescribe new drugs, do not like ending consultations with advice only, and are more likely to agree to prescribe a drug that is not clinically indicated. '

I find worrying. This should not be. The Government has created the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to publish guidelines on the treatment of different conditions. One of its jobs is to evaluate new drugs, and whether they have a place in therapy and so if the state will pay for it. It is a pharmacists role to try and advise on the best use of drugs - unfortunately we're not always listened to! Half the time, doctors do need a bit of a slap...!

I would say though, that because the medical system over here is state funded (If you came over to the UK and broke your leg, you would be treated for free. If I go to the US, I have to take out insurance) there is less interferance by the pharmaceutical industry. Unfortunately, we seem to have a way to go. I like the comment in the original article about the National Lottery funding research - I'm all for that!!

As to your question about if any of my lecturers are employed by the industry - the answer is no. All are employed by the Uni, or the local hospital trust. Not many peole around to indocrinate us I'm afraid!!

Also, in response to some of the earlier posts - in the UK we tend to use generic alternatives to meds as soon as they come off patent. Doctors have been told to prescribe generically wherever possible eg Salbutamol instead off Ventolin. Also, surgeries have to generate prescibing statistics, so trends can be identified. I would imagine that this is where the BMJ got its data from. I think some doc's are in need of a good ticking off.. ©†ƒ……•™¼‡_Original_Message_¾€š½ž¢«»¬ï°©

Erm.. I think that you,ve missed the fact that Ireland became an independant Republic in 1921, so a large body of that post is outside my remit. However, the paragraphs:

'The British Medical Journal last month devoted an entire issue to probe the relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies.

In a strongly-worded editorial headed "No more free lunches", the BMJ concluded that doctors and drug companies are "entwined in an embrace of avarice and excess, an embrace that distorts medical information and patient care".

The BMJ found evidence that drug companies influence doctors' prescribing habits, either through discussions with sales representatives or through sales drives dressed up as medical education. It quoted a British research group that found that doctors who have frequent contact with drug representatives are more willing to prescribe new drugs, do not like ending consultations with advice only, and are more likely to agree to prescribe a drug that is not clinically indicated. '

I find worrying. This should not be. The Government has created the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to publish guidelines on the treatment of different conditions. One of its jobs is to evaluate new drugs, and whether they have a place in therapy and so if the state will pay for it. It is a pharmacists role to try and advise on the best use of drugs - unfortunately we're not always listened to! Half the time, doctors do need a bit of a slap...!

I would say though, that because the medical system over here is state funded (If you came over to the UK and broke your leg, you would be treated for free. If I go to the US, I have to take out insurance) there is less interferance by the pharmaceutical industry. Unfortunately, we seem to have a way to go. I like the comment in the original article about the National Lottery funding research - I'm all for that!!

As to your question about if any of my lecturers are employed by the industry - the answer is no. All are employed by the Uni, or the local hospital trust. Not many peole around to indocrinate us I'm afraid!! Tweet