DrugMakers Tracking Doctors Prescriptions

Physicians are finally realizing that pharmaceutical companies are giving the doctor’s prescription preferences and patterns to their 90,000 sales people.  The Prescription Data sets up which physicians should be rewarded with perks like gifts, meals and seminars.  Targeting “early prescribers” or “cowboys” helps pharmaceutical salesmen promote particular name brand drugs to willing physicians.  Some states are considering legislation to clamp down on the practice.  The leading compiler gathers Prescription Data through contracts with pharmacy chains and companies that manage drug plans for insurers, then sell it to pharmaceutical companies.  This has got to stop!