News
Hospital tells doctors to stop giving out drug samples
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Published: May 13, 2008
CHARLOTTE
No more free samples with prescriptions, at least from doctors working for Carolinas HealthCare System.
The Charlotte Observer reported today that the system's 600 doctors have been told to stop giving out free drug samples.
The medical director for the hospital physician network, Dr. William Sugg, says the rules are to protect patients, limit liability and decrease the influence of drug companies.
Sugg says the hospital's doctors haven't done a good enough job of making sure samples are thrown away when they expire. He says doctors also haven't tracked which patient got the samples well enough to contact them in case of a recall.
Ken Johnson with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America says samples help patients get treatment sooner and find out which medicines work best for them.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( citizen ) on May 13, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It seems like to me that the hospital wants to keep the drugs to sell in their own pharmacy. Many hospitals and doctors office have a pharmacy. Blame should be placed on Congress for high cost of prescriptions, bad Medicare Prescription Plan, refusal to help retirees keep the benefits promised from companies where they retired, and their ties to the Pharmacautical Companies.
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Posted by ( weh ) on May 13, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You really can't blame congress for the expensive prescription drugs. The culprits here are the pharmaceutical companies who rake in billions in profits at the expense of customers. Also once on a drug you're usually dependent on it the rest of your life. The real key is to live a healthy lifestyle and not have to take the drugs. It's never too late to eat and live heathy. Quality and healthy foods cost more, but cheaper than drugs.
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