Prescription drug research - News you can use

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From The Oregonian

Saving on prescription drugs

11/26/02

When Gov. John Kitzhaber campaigned for a list of preferred drugs for patients in the Oregon Health Plan, the intention was to provide guidance to doctors on the most effective medicines available as well as to reduce costs to the state.

Now, other health-care consumers struggling with the high cost of prescription drugs can take advantage of the state's research. Together, AARP and the state have teamed up to present the results on the Internet.

Not surprisingly, consumer-friendly information from state researchers hasn't been well-received by the pharmaceutical industry.

The industry lobbied hard against the measure when it came before the Legislature last year, arguing that it would deny poor patients the benefit of the most effective drugs.

That has not been the case, since doctors are free to prescribe drugs not on the list if they believe others would be more beneficial to their patients.

But the state's Web site poses a greater challenge for the drug industry. Insured consumers facing higher co-payments for prescription drugs are likely to use such guidelines when talking to their health-care providers. And people who lack prescription coverage, especially seniors on Medicare, will certainly find the information useful.

The study was conducted by the Evidence-based Practice Center of Oregon Health & Science University

It is ironic that the pharmaceutical industry objects to the state giving consumers free scientific information when the industry spends billions on advertising to consumers every year.

Drug makers may not place as much importance as consumers do on the cost of health care. Keeping up with medical research does put an added burden on consumers. But with the soaring cost of prescription drugs, that's a burden most people will gladly bear.

Here's a link to the research:
http://www.aarp.org/wiseuse/oregon-research.html