babble: Canadians spend more on drugs than doctors

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Topic: Canadians spend more on drugs than doctors

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 23 June 2004 12:50 PM

Washington Times

quote:
Drug spending is the fastest-growing component of total health spending in Canada.

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

beverly
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5064

posted 23 June 2004 12:55 PM

Confirms my suspicion that Canadians are over medicated. The minute you go to the Dr. they want you to put something down your throat. And some Dr., that's all they do.

I went to a Dr. last fall. Nothing serious just needed a check-up -- ieee minus female checks and I mentioned I was under a lot of stress and having trouble sleeping. He wrote me a perscription for sleeping pills which I threw out.

From: In my Apartment!!!! | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

paxamillion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2836

posted 23 June 2004 01:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kuba:
Confirms my suspicion that Canadians are over medicated.

I fail to see how it can. Some of the increase, the article says, is due to newer drugs being used. To prove your suspicion, wouldn't a large number of files have to be reviewed independently to determine if medication is being over used?

Some doctors do get the prescription pad out earlier. But just how much professional latitude are they permitted in recommending alternatives to patients?

My doctors are pretty conservative with me when it comes to medication.

From: the process of recovery | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

beverly
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5064

posted 23 June 2004 01:07 PM

quote:
Some of the increase, the article says, is due to newer drugs being used.

But I guess I wonder if these new drugs are needed at all. My parents are elderly everytime they go to the Dr. they get a perscription for something. When my dad was so sick this fall, with that West Nile they could only treat the symptoms so he had like ALOT of pills. I took him another Dr., I had heard of and asked him to review all this medication. I mean it can't be good to be taking this and that -- how do they interact. He cut him off some of them.

From: In my Apartment!!!! | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

paxamillion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2836

posted 23 June 2004 01:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kuba:
But I guess I wonder if these new drugs are needed at all.

Isn't Health Canada tasked with considering this?

From: the process of recovery | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

Fidel
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5594

posted 23 June 2004 01:43 PM

American's spend more on health care and drugs than any nation. American's have had anywhere from 42-72 million citizens without health insurance at some point during their Conservative led net job loss economic recovery at the start of 2001. And their dismal health statistics are the proof. Just say "no" to Stephen Harper and American-style health care for Canada.

From: Viva La Revolución | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 23 June 2004 03:33 PM

A lot of doctors take advantage of the elderly, and vice-versa. The result is old people taking so many pills that they rattle. My mother-in-law has Altzeimers', so I am familiar with this. We are forever telling doctors to stop prescribing their crap. One idiot actually put her on birth control pills and she started having periods again - at 80+ years old!

Many doctors seem to have forgotten the principal of doing no harm. We all have to be sensible about the elderly. It is beneficial to help them be comfortable. It is not beneficial to pretend that they can be kept alive forever and then to treat them as guinea pigs.

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Jason Mann
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6118

posted 23 June 2004 04:20 PM

"Confirms my suspicion that Canadians are over medicated. The minute you go to the Dr. they want you to put something down your throat. And some Dr., that's all they do. "

Could be true yes, but did you also consiter that the cost of drugs has been raised quite a bit by the drug monopolies? The price of drugs is going through the roof because of monopoly control of the industry and laws that prevent the development of cheaper generic drugs.

Yes sure, perhaps we take to many drugs but don't forget that the real reason why the drug costs are high is monopoly control

From: Vancouver | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

beverly
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5064

posted 23 June 2004 05:28 PM

Well the dunce that perscribed the sleeping pills he should have know that I couldn't have taken then anyhow. The reason I couldn't sleep was my dad had balance problems and if he had fallen in the night.....

But I hate to say see see, see but an 80 year old woman getting the pill. PLEASZZZEE.

I now have both my folks taking far fewer pills. And the whole med. program reevaluated by one Dr., who figured some of them didn't go with other ones. I also have taught them to ask before they get a perscription about diet etc. etc.

From: In my Apartment!!!! | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

BleedingHeart
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3292

posted 23 June 2004 10:14 PM

I would agree that most people are on way too many pills.

There are a number of reasons for this.

1. Subspecialization means that patients are often treated by more than one doctor.

2. Polypharmacy is often recommended for some conditions, the idea being that smaller doses of multiple drugs are safer and more effective.

3. Certain conditions tend to occur together. A patient may be on two drugs for their blood pressure, a pill for their diabetes, and a pill for their cholesterol. If they smoke they probably have chronic lung disease and are on meds for that.

4. It would be nice if people took your advice to diet, exercise and stop smoking but most people would rather have a pill.

5. If you didn't want a prescription, why did you sit there while he or she wrote it.

6. It is interesting how many vitamins and other supplements many otherwise healthy people are on.

7. I agree giving most tranquillizers to the elderly is malpractice.

From: Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud and the blood and the beer | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 23 June 2004 11:27 PM

I worked out, rather roughly, that drug costs rose faster than the inflation rate - and were the only cost to do so in total health spending. In point of fact, the generics largely stayed with the inflation rate, while the brand name drugs were the ones that rose most dramatically.

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 24 June 2004 12:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by DrConway:
I worked out, rather roughly, that drug costs rose faster than the inflation rate - and were the only cost to do so in total health spending. In point of fact, the generics largely stayed with the inflation rate, while the brand name drugs were the ones that rose most dramatically.

Thanks to brian Mulroney.

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

BleedingHeart
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3292

posted 24 June 2004 12:44 AM

By the way in 1994 Klein told the Alberta doctors their total billings must drop by 25%. As a compromize the doctors were able to only get a 5% drop by promising to embark on a program to reduce drug costs. This program never came off. The government showed no interest. Why, of course the pharmaceuticals contribute to the Conservatives.

From: Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud and the blood and the beer | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

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