“I Like Money.” – Part 2

There are four “known” ways doctors get money from pharmaceutical companies.

1. Consumer sees pharmaceutical company’s TV ad and decides he has a horrible disease with a Name because his leg twitches at night occasionally when drifting off to sleep. Consumer makes doctor appointment. Doctor gets office visit fee from consumer’s co-pay, insurance company, and/or Medicare/ Medicaid.

2. Volume prescription-writing for Drug of the Month promo. Nice kickback. Everyone needs this drug! Brilliance. Consumer feels doctor is really trying to help him because he gave him a PILL. Nevermind those pesky side effects – there are other pills to address those.

3. Doctor is allowed to actually SELL some pills through his office, highly poisonous chemo drugs for example. Doctor buys at wholesale, sells at retail. Consumer appreciates this one-stop shopping!

4. Doctor becomes a marqee “professor,” professing the miraculous benefits of a pharma-drug at medical conferences and industry events all over the world for a generous fee, all expenses paid.

Notice I used the term “consumer,” not “patient.”