E-DRUG: Pharmaceutical advertisements in prescribing or EHR software
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Dear E-Drug colleagues,
I should be most grateful for information concerning whether or not
pharmaceutical promotion has infiltrated prescribing &/or electronic
health record software in your country.
Also, is anyone aware of any research on the impact of this practice on
prescribing habits?
In Australia, in 1999, the uptake of computers by general practitioners
(GPs) was stimulated by the Australian government. A one-off grant of
around $10,000 was offered to those practices that purchased a computer,
acquired Internet connectivity (an E-mail address) and promised to use
computer prescribing software to write the majority of their
prescriptions. This increased the numbers of GPs writing prescriptions
with the aid of a computer from around 50% in 1999 to more than 90% in
2004. Legible, printed prescriptions were one of many positive outcome
of this initiative. However, problems have also resulted.
One software vendor (Medical Director) rapidly became dominant in the
market place because its business model relied on selling advertising
space within the software to subsidise the cost of purchasing and
updating the program. This business model facilitated software uptake
but also exposed prescribers (and often their patients) to numerous
advertisements throughout the day.
A preliminary analysis of Medical Director software showed 29 clinical
functions where advertisements occurred ranging from prescribing, to
entering blood pressure, to looking up patient information leaflets.
Most advertisements were provided by research based pharmaceutical
companies. Only one generic manufacturer was represented; the latter
contributed 3% of drug advertisements
The possible impact of pharmaceutical advertisements on cost-effective
prescribing has been the subject of vigorous debate in Australia. Some
believe that pharmaceutical advertisements in prescribing &/or EHR
software should be banned by the government. Others are concerned that
such a ban would raise the price of the software, prevent otherwise
lawful activity, inhibit free speech, etc.
It would be most helpful if we could learn what people in other
countries have done about this problem.
Cheers
Ken
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Dr. Ken Harvey
Web: http://www.medreach.com.au Mobile: 0419 181910
k.harvey@latrobe.edu.au