Manufacturers Dodge Pharmacists' Efforts to Control Drug Costs

A recent article in the New York Times titled “Drug Makers Sidestep Barriers on Pricing” reminded me that pharmaceutical manufacturers are pretty good at finding new ways to make a profit on their drugs.

When there’s greater pressure to control price increases, the manufacturers find other ways to make money, such as “circumvent(ing) efforts of insurers and pharmacists to switch patients to the generic components, or even to the over-the-counter versions,” the article explains.

As you read these types of stories about the ways drug companies are making the health care system work to their advantage, you start to wonder whether profits are getting in the way of care quality and costs.

What do you think should be done? Let me know via e-mail at Fred@ncpharmacists.org or Twitter @eckel_fred