Counter Maneuvers

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Counter Maneuvers

• Sep 7th 2006 NEW YORKFrom The Economist Print
  Edition
• Presented By Sidharath Sakhuja

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Europe

• Most of Europe has absolute control over the
  dispensing of drugs. The dispensing rights are
  given strictly to pharmacies. This includes OTC
  (over the counter), BTC (behind the counter) and
  prescription-only drugs.
• In the Netherlands and other Anglo-Saxon
  countries, new policies are leaning towards a
  liberal front that would allow pharmacists to
  dispense a greater variety of drugs. Even in
  supermarkets and other general stores.
• Druggist have long fought against giving the
  rights to pharmacist to dispense drugs, not being
  restricted to OTCs.
• America?

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America

• In the United States, lobbyist for the
  pharmaceutical companies have tried long and hard
  to make sure that pharmacists dont get this type
  of control. For they fear a loss in sales.
• The Food and Drug Administration has done a great
  job to make sure that there are no BTC drugs
  available.
• Then recently, from an unexpected certain group,
  came a helping hand. The FDA made a choice.
• Finally after years of oppression, the
  pharmacists get a sliver of control. They are
  allowed to dispense Plan-B without a
  prescription. Plan B, a morning after
  contraceptive hitherto sold only as a
  prescription drug in America.

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Plan-B

• Plan B, a morning after contraceptive hitherto,
  is sold only as a prescription drug in America.
• Rather than allowing it to be dispensed freely,
  the FDA forced a voluntary accord on Barr
  Laboratories, the drug's maker, for it to be sold
  from behind the pharmacist's counter.
• After an i.d. check, if the buyer is over 18, the
  pharmacist can pull this drug out from behind the
  counter, and dispense it. If the buyer is a
  minor, they still would require a prescription
  from a doctor.
• The arrival of Plan B may usher in the emergence
  of a class of pharmaceuticals unknown in America
  behind-the-counter (BTC) drugs.

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Worldly Medicine Sales

• This chart illustrates the percentage sales of
  medicine that can be purchased over the counter.
• The sales are divided into two categories
  pharmacies, and non-pharmacy retailers.
• With the introduction of BTCs, pharmaceutical
  companies fear that sales of medicine will
  decline due to people being shy to consult a
  pharmacist.

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Potential Sales Over Here

• In Britain, OTC sales rose by 20 , when
  consumers were allowed to purchase medicine
  without the pharmacists surveillance.
• This shyness issue seems to be a X factor that
  is varies from person to person. The sales of
  certain medicines would potentially rise if
  another such factor was introduced. Such as
  convenience. The ability to get the medicine
  without having to got to the doctor, is
  priceless. Wait two hours, for Plan-B? That
  is if you get an appointment that week! I say go
  for it, let people be in charge for once.
• This will affect the insurance industry greatly
  as well. It is not defined in the article,
  whether or not the BTC products are covered under
  insurance. Most likely, like OTC products, they
  are not.

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Money

• With the emergence of medicine that does not need
  doctor approval to ingest, more people will be
  likely to stay off of insurance plans.
• This could potentially be a direct decline in
  demand for insurance. Take into account that a
  good portion of people will still be on insurance
  in case of severe injury or need of medical
  attention.
• Good old fashioned paranoia, or some call it
  being prepared.
• Insurance companies are already pushing to wean
  people off of prescription drugs that have
  equivalents that are sold over the counter. This
  would just give them an excuse to provide less
  coverage and increase out of pocket spending for
  individuals.