Some doctors give samples out to help needy patients. Why don't all make more of an effort to do this?

Question

My mother has worked for a few doctors and said that if a drug is overly expensive and they know the patient does not have a secondary form of insurance, the doctor will go for the samples. I just had a few experiences with doctors that did not make this effort when they probably had samples in their office. We had to purchase $80 eye drops for my grandmother. My mother, who was an office manager for an opthamologist, mentioned that samples of Dobra-Tex (the eye drops) were almost definitely in that office. The doctor wasn't the most polite person anyways. But that is besides the point. How do you feel about the samples issue? Some doctors will readily do this for patients in need. Do you think some doctors lose touch with real world economics? That they don't realize that everyone is not making six figures like they are? Some have that attitude. But definitely the majority do not.

Answer 1

Not all docs have all samples at the same time. They have whatever a drug reps have left with them. Next time don't wait for the doc to offer samples. There is nothing wrong with asking for samples. All they can do is say no. I, for one, do not approve of the whole sample world. Drug reps tend to leave samples for things that are new and expensive. Items they want lots of patients started on. It's kind of like a street drug dealer. The first few are free then you're hooked. A lot of new drugs are not any better than older ones. They are either combination products or "me too" drugs. Ask the doctor if he/she is prescribing a newer therapy that is expensive and without generics. If so, would a cheaper or generic item do the trick??? You pay docs more per hour than probably anyone else on the planet. You are allowed to asked questions and disagree. I do think samples muddy the water a little to alot. They should not influence what is to be prescribed.

Answer 2

Some of th docs don't have free samples..Mine do but only in certain drugs..usually the newer ones..Very seldom will they have the older drugs..They have to give out only what the phamaceutical reps bring and they bring the NEW drugs that nobody is aware of. Since the drug companies give drugs free to those who need it now. the docs may not think about free samples as much.

Answer 3

some doc's need a dose of reality, and need to relearn some of life's lessons