This website provides links to the compelling, and concerning problem of the pharmaceutical industry's influence on medical practice. From the Pharmaceutical facts page:
- According to industry estimates, drug companies spent $15.7 billion dollars on promotion in 2000, up from $ 13.9 billion in 1999. (IMS Health)
- Sixty million “details” were made by 83,000 drug reps in the year 2000. Astra-Zeneca added 1,300 reps solely to promote Nexium. (Scott-Levin Consulting)
- $7.2 billion dollars worth of free samples were distributed in the year 2000. (IMS Health)
- The “Research-based” pharmaceutical industry spends more on promotion and administration than it does on research and development. (Families USA)
- Drug costs increased 18.8% to $131.9 billion dollars in 2000. Over a third of this increase was due to a shift to the use of more expensive drugs. (National Institute for Health Care Management)
- Two and one-half billion dollars were spent on advertising to consumers in 2000, a 35% increase from 1999; $468 million dollars were spent on journal ads. (NIHCM)
- Increases in the sales of the 50 drugs most heavily advertised to consumers were responsible for almost half (47.8%) of the $20.8 billion increase in spending in 2000.(NIHCM)
- In 2000, Merck spent $161 million on advertising for Vioxx. That is more than Pepsico spent advertising Pepsi. ($125 million), and more than Anheuser-Busch spent advertising Budweiser.($146 million) (NIHCM)