E-drug: Reply from Dr Attaran to Dr Srinivas (cont'd)
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Dear E-druggers:
I join in urging that Dr Srinivas and the many others like him continue
to give us the benefit of their views, even at the price of the
occasional excessive reaction.
The concern about the varying prices of drug choices might be more
effectively addressed, in my view, if those who make prescribing
decisions insisted on answers to two fairly simple questions: how
does the cost of treating my patient with this new drug compare with a
course of treatment with the one(s) it seeks to replace? If the cost of
the new drug is greater, what offsetting advantages, if any, does it
offer in reduced toxicity, faster recovery, etc.?
If the professions require -- and act on -- reliable answers to those two
questions, cost-effective prescribing decisions would be more
common, and philosophical debates over patents would be
unnecessary.
James B. Russo
Executive Director
The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations
146 Koenig Road
Bernville, PA 19506
USA
610 488 8303
610 488 7036 (fax)
e-mail: JBRusso@pqmd.com
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