Pharmaceutical companies may create medications that treat a range of ailments
and disorders, but they remain large and powerful corporations. As such,
they have financial interests in increasing the use of their medications
and spend untold sums on gifts to doctors who recommend their medications
over others. In fact, one new study published in the
American Journal of Public Health reported that some of the nation’s biggest opioid drug makers spend
millions on American doctors.
In light of the county’s devastating opioid crisis, payments to doctors who prescribe opioid medications raises questions about the ethical nature of money and medicine. According to the study, the issue is not a small one either:
- Researchers found that makers of opioid medications paid close to $50 million to over 68,000 American doctors during a 28-month period between 2013 and 2015.
- One in five family physicians in America have received payment in relation to an opioid medication.
- Ohio, which has played host to a crushing opioid crisis for several years, was the eight state with the highest total payments from drug manufacturers to doctors.
- For every 1,000 residents in Ohio, opioid manufacturers spent $87.
The numbers are alarming for many, and particularly for the state of Ohio, which ranks near the top of the nation when it comes to opioid-related deaths. According to researchers, the data suggests that physicians who receive payments for medications are more likely to prescribe those medications, even when payments are small or amount to something as simple as a meal.
While the study does not prove a definitive link between payments and prescription just yet, it could very well be the foundation of new efforts to create policies that prohibit or limit payments from pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, it may play a role in medical malpractice cases where victims suffer harm due to negligent prescription and doctors who dole out medications based on their financial interests, rather than the best interests of a patient.