Drug Companies Have Too Much Influence on Doctors, Say US Consumers

      More than two-thirds of people who use prescription drugs in the US believe that drug makers have too much influence on doctors' prescribing, a study has found.

     In a new prescription drug poll by the Consumer Reports National Research Centre, 45% of respondents were found to be taking at least one prescription drug on a regular basis.

    The poll revealed that 47% thought that gifts from pharmaceutical companies influence doctors' prescribing decisions, while 41% said they believed that doctors tend to prescribe newer, more expensive drugs.

    It also found that 51% thought that doctors don't consider a patient's ability to pay when prescribing a drug.

    The report also revealed that the public has a strong appetite for safety information: 87% said that knowing the safety of a prescription drug was a top priority, while 79% were concerned about drug interactions.