The gifts and payments that doctors receive from drugmakers increased inappropriate prescribing and the number of prescriptions written, likely leading to rising health care costs, according to a Cochrane review of dozens of previous studies that have explored the influence the pharmaceutical industry has on medical practice.
In addition, pharmaceutical advertising or education aimed at doctors may also increase inappropriate prescribing, probably increases the number of prescriptions written, and may increase the costs of prescriptions. But conflict-of-interest policies that restrict or manage interactions between companies and doctors probably improved prescribing practices, the analysis found.
However, there was not enough evidence to draw clear conclusions on whether free drug samples and other promotions affect decisions to place specific drugs on hospital formularies. These are the list of medicines approved for use and routinely stocked in a hospital or health system.
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