Some patients are unaware physicians earn significant amounts from drug manufacturing firms in addition to their medical practice. A number of physicians earn these fees as "consultants" to the drug companies or from "speakers fees." Some patients who are aware mind, others do not.
However, one view about this practice is, "share the wealth."
Physicians accepting monies from drug companies might also choose to provide additional patient care via a larger selection of freebie samples for their patients - or perhaps, through a special referral program with chosen neighborhood pharmacy, discount pricing to assist patients with compromised means.
Below list is of San Diego physicians (extending north to Encinitas) who received in excess of ten thousand dollars, based on quarterly income reports from a selected few, certainly not all, drug companies. The list was compiled through Propublica.org
AstraZenneca $52,400.00
Eli Lilly $15,975.00
Eli Lilly $11,146.00
J&J $ 4,153.00
GSK $ 6,790.00
Eli Lilly $ 1,900.00
Eli Lilly $24,000.00
GSK $20,500.00
Eli Lilly $15,075.00
GSK $27,700.00
GSK $31,700.00
Eli Lilly $21,255.00
Eli Lilly $45,566,00
Astra $25,350.00
Eli Lilly $43,181.00
GSK $ 4,000.00
GSK $10,250.00
GSK $37,500.00
GSK $99,000.00
Eli Lilly $23,250.00
Eli Lilly $11,700.00
Eli Lilly $51,979.00
Eli Lilly $21.050.00
GSK $57,800.00
GSK $77,500.00
GSK $ 9,051.00
GSK $ 9,750.00
GSK $19,500.00
GSK $17,500.00
Eli Lilly $26,195.00
Eli Lilly $42,200.00
Astra $17,200.00
GSK $22,500.00
Eli Lilly $43,500,00
Eli Lilly $21,354.00
Astra $16,400.00
Eli Lilly $22,391.00
Eli Lilly $ 4,110.00
Eli Lilly $26,855.00
Eli Lilly $10,675.00
Eli Lilly $68,900.00
GSK $ 9,500.00
Astra $13,600.00
Eli Lilly $19,334.00
Comments
Always the trouble maker, aren't you Miss Bonnie?
Good article. I'm sure many people are not aware that physicians benefit financially from the drugs they prescribe.
It's about S-o-l-u-t-i-o-n-s. Don't care too much about accepting fees, (as long as it's disclosed) and am for extra patient benefit.
There are a large number of patients that benefit from the "freebie" samples given to them by their physician. This is especially true of senior citizens who've fallen into the "donut hole" under the Medicare Part D Rx plan... it helps them get through the year.
I too believe in proper disclosure and I appreciate you do just that! Overall, the total number of physician's accepting some sort of payment from drug companies seems relatively low when you consider the vast number of doctors practicing in San Diego.
Thanks. Appreciate your comment. And you're correct, over-all most doctors don't rake it in. This is why the limit was set at 10k.
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