The Prescription Project—Advancing Medical Practice and Policy

Fact Sheet Read time:
The Prescription Project—Advancing Medical Practice and Policy

Advances in medicine and medical devices have revolutionized the practice of health care, curing certain diseases and improving the quality of life. However, the $12 billion spent annually on pharmaceutical marketing has led to real and perceived conflicts of interest. Research has shown that medical decision-making based on marketing rather than independent scientific evidence can compromise patient care, increase health care costs and erode public confidence in the medical profession. The stakes are high: National spending on prescription drugs is nearing $200 billion per year, growing at double the rate of other health services.

MORE FROM PEW

A presentation being given by a businesswoman to a group of participants at a business conference. Four Plan Features Can Boost 'Retirement Readiness'
A large group of people in formal or traditional attire stands together on a stage, with a digital background depicting marine life and the large text “WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.” WTO Needs to Redouble Its Effort on Fishing Subsidies
A man in a winter hat and sunglasses kneels on a rocky shoreline in front of a campfire, holding a metal mug with gloved hands. Behind him, in the water, a motorboat is moored to the shore. Cliffs rise on both sides of the water. Why Newfoundland’s South Coast Fjords Are Sacred
An illustration of a couple holding hands walking away from an outline of houses behind them Pathways to Homeownership: Housing in America