Wednesday, November 17, 2010

hospira


A few days ago I drove up north to San Jose, California and saw something I thought I'd share.

Along the 158 California Interstate, is one of the largest and most well known vaccine and IV pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world, Hospira. From simple saline IV's to glucose solution and irrigations Hospira is one of the leading drug companies in the world. "Advancing wellness" is there motto and from the size of the warehouse and the number of cars in the parking lot you can see they aren't kidding.

Recent news on Hospira includes the nationwide shortage of the anesthetic thiopental sodium. Doctors, vets, and state prisons commonly use this drug. The scarcity has posed several problems to the nation. In most of the 35 states that allows the death penalty, thio sod is used as part of a lethal injection regiment. As a result of this shortage, prisons are postponing execution dates giving lawyer's time to overturn death penalty sentences. In hospitals, surgeries are being delayed. While some doctors and anesthesiologists are scrambling across state lines to obtain thio sod from hospitals that still have a few vials in stock others are trying to propose alternative drugs not part of FDA protocol. 

Hospira is currently the only domestic manufacturer of thiopental sodium, which tells you just how much influence they have on the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. According to Rosenburg, a company spokesman, the drug shortage is due to suspension in production. One of the active ingredients that is typically supplied from another drug manufacturer has been increasingly difficult to obtain and as a result production was halted almost one year ago. 

Due to drug patent issues a generic drug is not yet on the market and won't be for several years. Luckily, Hopsira announced that production should resume during the fall of 2011. Hopefully doctors will find a legal and safe way around this shortage until then.

-J


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

you made your bed, now sleep in it

Fancy dinners and bonuses are sometimes too hard to resist. 

Tactics like these are frequently employed by drug companies to advertise their drugs and build relationships with doctors. According to Reuters, "doctors in the U.S. are still too cozy with drug companies."Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital conducted a survey and found that over 80% of drug companies have relationships with doctors. Drug companies have been known to provide free food, beverages, and compensation for attending meetings and continuing education. And like any give and take relationship, doctors generate favoritism toward the company and are more likely to prescribe their drug or medication. This influence has been frowned upon and members in Congress and the FDA are pushing to have all ties severed between drug companies and doctors.


Although statistics have shown that relationships have been decreasing, an unacceptable number still remain. Survey results showed that 70% of doctors accept food and beverages while 40% accept money payments. Yet doctors in surveys are claiming that the number of meetings they have with drug companies are decreasing and that "they cannot be influenced" by such compensations.


Interestingly, if doctors could not be influenced, why do drug companies continue to provide complimentary dinners and bonuses?


-J

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

prop19


To be blunt, politics is not my forte.

Although I live in a society where a single voice is said to make all the difference, I am not registered to vote. I've never found the need to follow politicians and listen to their speeches on how they plan to change the world. Too many politicians have let me down and voicing my opinion on a piece of paper would be a waste of time. I understand this can be detrimental to our government if everyone had my mentality, but luckily they don't.

But even though I don't vote, that doesn't mean I don't follow current events. During the election period I hear about a number of propositions trying to get passed. I am all for keeping abortion legal and supporting gay marriage. After all, choice is one of the most important things the United States has to offer.

But when it comes to Prop19, the legalizing of marijuana, I have to put my foot down. I don't believe legalizing marijuana would push California in the right direction. There are enough problems with alcohol and recreational drugs that I don't want to see an increase in emergency room visits because people are testing their limits with new drugs. There is a reason marijuana is currently illegal, how have those reasons changed?

Entering the healthcare industry means I advocate for healthy living by being drug free. Prescription and over the counter FDA approved drugs are the only ones I think people should be taking. I don't want to see Prop19 get passed. So maybe I'll get off my ass and vote. You should too.

-J