Regarding drug profit margins
Hugewhalshark wrote :" I find it surprising that doctors make more (I mean more $, not more %) on generics. Let's say a generic sells for $10 a course and a non-generic, high power alternative sells for $30. Maybe you make 60% on the generic = $6. To make the same $6 on the non-generic you only need to make 20%. You mean that the margins can be that different?"
Comment from Hugewhaleshark
The margins for generics are higher than 60%. But that is besides the point.
You see for the doctor earning the same amount of money in your example one patient's bill for her antibiotics is $10 while the other is a whopping 300% higher at $30! And the drug may actually be the same eg Clarithromycin (just different brands and manufacturers and dosing)
It makes a big difference in the psyche of a customer. This is where pricing in business comes in. After adding consultation of $18 and assuming just antibiotics prescribed it's either $28 or $48!. Which would you rather have?
Of course perhaps it would be better if the doctor explained to you and gave you the option of choosing generic vs non-generic then it would be up to you. That would be better right?
But I'm just wondering. Which would you choose?
posted by Dr Oz bloke @ 6:10 PM
13 Comments:
non-generic anytime. why? perhaps legacy from my time in the pharma coy. most non-generic pharma guys always have some lingering suspicions for generic.
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I don't think it's wrong or right or good or bad to choose generics or non-generics.
But if we choose non-generics and then complain about being robbed about the high price. That's ridiculous don't you think?
Not when the doc. unnecessarily and arbitrarily dispense a designer drug and expect the patient to clear his stocks.
That's not medicine. That's a scam!
Good point. But so far we have not had complaint letters of that nature.
No one has written anything about refusing to take the medicine but was forced to take it and pay for it.
I'm sure they would have written that. I don't think there are many doctors out there who force patients to take and buy expensive medicines.
Of course individual prescribing habits of doctors are a factor. Some doctors are used to certain generic and non-generic drugs for certain conditions.
In my experience, if it's expensive the patients tell me the price is dear. And I explain and at the end I give them a choice.
Of course if you don't say anything, pay for it at the counter then go out and say Dr Oz Bloke scammed me....hey is that fair?
Oh, didn't know that patient can reject non-generic drugs and ask for generics. Some doc will get "impatient" with you. What if the doc tells you, that all he has in his clinic - then what?
Ask for a prescription and get it at pharma? - most doc would not be happy. Have not heard of doc giving prescription readily, unless he doesn't have that particular drugs in his clinic.
"Ask for a prescription and get it at pharma? - most doc would not be happy. Have not heard of doc giving prescription readily, unless he doesn't have that particular drugs in his clinic."
Well you as the consumer have a right to decide what you want to buy. And you also have to right to ask what is it you are prescribed. The doctor has a duty to answer your concerns if any.
If he does not have generics in his clinic then ask him to write you a prescription for it.
At the end of the day, which would you prefer? You be unhappy because the doctor gave you exepensive non-generics you didn't want or the doctor unhappy because you asked for a prescription? Why so scared to offend the doctor? Who is he to you? God?
You are always welcome to switch to a more open, upfront and forthcoming GP that will communicate better with you.
Ya hor, why so scared of the doc. huh?
The docs are usually more scared of me than I of him.
Why ha?
Reminds me of a joke.
While some doctors claim to be GOD, GOD has never claimed he was a doctor.
Think about it.
But God claimed he is a PUNISHER of ALL(including doctors) who transgressed against HIM and his creations(including the patients).
So it's not only Khaw what's his name?
SMA, SMC, CASE who are looking after us, the poor patients.
Think about it.
Err...uglybaldie,
I made a mistake. Better not talk about religion here lah ok?
I was trying to say dun be scared of the doc cos he ain't God. Let's just leave it at that.
Lest the Muslims and Christians start coming out to say how their Gods are different etc.
Wakarimaska?
wakarimashita :-)
Not scared of docs, very sick and tired of going around searching for good doc, lah.
Good docs are like dinosaur, very soon will be extinct.
Also will be black-listed as "doc-hopping".
Well what makes a "GOOD" doctor anyway?
From what I observe what patients really mean when they say that is just a doctor that they "FEEL" comfortable with. Can get along well. Communicates well with him etc.
It usually has very little to do with his/her medical knowledge or competency.
So one might as well say that "GOOD" people are hard to come by these days! :)
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