New Diabetes Drug; Congratulations to Dr. Leipzig
Ironically, after yesterday’s entry here, the Wall Street Journal had an article today regarding FDA approval for a new prescription drug (by Merck) to treat Type 2 Diabetes (another similar drug by Novartis AG is awaiting FDA approval). This new drug is expected to sell at $4.86 each (you only need one pill a day) --- ie. $146/mo or $1,750/yr.
“Analysts have predicted both drugs could easily reach blockbuster status of more than $1 billion in annual sales by 2010 as long as no major safety issues emerge.” At those prices, we’re not surprised. We can only hope the drugs have been fully tested.
Again, isn’t it better (and cheaper) to try to prevent the disease by following the doctor’s advise? We’re not saying drugs aren’t needed--- however, it should be a last resort, not the default.
Just a thought.
A heartfelt congratulations to our partner, Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, geriatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center for her positive representation of geriatricians as described in the NY Times article, Geriatrics Lags in Age of High-Tech Medicine. (The article described how she correctly surmised an older patient had an infection and did not need surgery--- as her family had been incorrectly told by other doctors.)
Because geriatrics is not as “glamorous” as other specialties or pay as much, there seems to be a shortage of geriatricians. In fact, “in 2005, there was one geriatrician for every 5,000 Americans 65 and older, a ratio that experts say is sure to worsen. Of 145 medical schools in the United States, only 9 have departments of geriatrics. Few schools require geriatric courses. And teaching hospitals graduate internists with as little as six hours of geriatric training.”
How can this be? With the boomers aging, there will need to be an increase in the number of geriatricians--- and a need for all doctors to, at the very least, have specialized knowledge on treating older patients. Older patients have special requirements --- and should not be disregarded. Again, with 78M baby boomers aging, doctors need to have training (and 6 hours is not enough) on how to diagnose older patients.
“Analysts have predicted both drugs could easily reach blockbuster status of more than $1 billion in annual sales by 2010 as long as no major safety issues emerge.” At those prices, we’re not surprised. We can only hope the drugs have been fully tested.
Again, isn’t it better (and cheaper) to try to prevent the disease by following the doctor’s advise? We’re not saying drugs aren’t needed--- however, it should be a last resort, not the default.
Just a thought.
A heartfelt congratulations to our partner, Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, geriatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center for her positive representation of geriatricians as described in the NY Times article, Geriatrics Lags in Age of High-Tech Medicine. (The article described how she correctly surmised an older patient had an infection and did not need surgery--- as her family had been incorrectly told by other doctors.)
Because geriatrics is not as “glamorous” as other specialties or pay as much, there seems to be a shortage of geriatricians. In fact, “in 2005, there was one geriatrician for every 5,000 Americans 65 and older, a ratio that experts say is sure to worsen. Of 145 medical schools in the United States, only 9 have departments of geriatrics. Few schools require geriatric courses. And teaching hospitals graduate internists with as little as six hours of geriatric training.”
How can this be? With the boomers aging, there will need to be an increase in the number of geriatricians--- and a need for all doctors to, at the very least, have specialized knowledge on treating older patients. Older patients have special requirements --- and should not be disregarded. Again, with 78M baby boomers aging, doctors need to have training (and 6 hours is not enough) on how to diagnose older patients.
posted by CareTALKGals(tm) at 10/17/2006 11:01:00 PM
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