Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10178

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Patients' Needs Come First With Doctors
The New Straits Times 2007 Mar 22
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-136651203.html

Notes:

Letter

Full text:

WITH reference to the letter “Doctors in cahoots with drug companies” (NST, March 14), it seems that in recent times, there has been much ado with regard to doctors and medicines.

The medical profession has come under the close scrutiny of the authorities and even the public.

However, one has to realise that the profession has always been guided by rules and regulations that would probably be much too long to mention in this letter. What seems even more bewildering about this whole situation is the fact that in a recent survey conducted to gauge who Malaysians trusted most, it was the doctors who topped this survey.

Doctors put the welfare of their patients into perspective and treat them accordingly. This also means giving them the right medicine based on their illness. Hence, when the physician chooses his mode of therapy, it is not the most expensive or the cheapest but the most appropriate.

It is indeed heartening to see consumer associations taking a great interest in the welfare of the public when it comes to medicines.

However, one has to realise that choosing medicines is not similar to buying any commodity off the shelf. It is for this very reason that we do not have direct-to-consumer advertising for medicines. It is also for this reason that doctors or pharmacists are those who are most qualified to inform the consumer about taking the right medicine.

Again, I would reiterate that a consumer association is most welcome in informing the public about medicines but it needs to be balanced and factually accurate. Issues pertaining to health care can create quite a stir if they are misleading.

Hence, it would be essential when the consumers have meetings regarding medicines that members of the profession be invited and allowed to say their piece. It is the consumer’s right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed choice.

DR V.W.

Kuala Lumpur