In this era of fast-paced developments, rapid changes and quick results, pharma companies are no longer just about developing drugs to sell to patients. This industry today has been integrating a more personal approach to help patients understand why they need certain drugs, and comply with their therapy, or treatments as directed.
Pharma companies are also providing options to patients. So, here are three of the latest trends driving this industry.
Physician Dispensing, or In-Office Drug Dispensing Program
Doctors dispensing prescription drugs to patients in their offices, which bypasses the process of going to the pharmacy, have had a 300 percent increase in demand in some states in the U.S., according to a study from Helios. The biggest benefit of point of care dispensing for patients is the convenience and improvement of health, as they are able to better adhere to the treatment plan which their doctors have prescribed.
Research in the Annals of Internal Medicine cites that 30% of prescriptions fail to get filled out while 50% of medications for chronic conditions are not taken as directed. Point of care dispensing facilities reduces the challenges patients normally encounter when purchasing their medication. Thus, the outcome of their condition improves because doctors become able to properly monitor and guide their patients into taking their prescriptions.
This is also a part of another emerging trend in the pharmaceutical industry where patients want “next-door health care” or the accessibility of medical services close to where they already are.
Digital Transformation in the Pharma Industry
More and more health care facilities, including the pharma industry, are adopting digital technology in their patients’ treatment plan. Devices to diagnose and monitor the patient’s progress, and sharing patients’ data in a cloud platform with health care providers, offer more improved outcomes.
It also empowers the patients to take an active part in their treatments when they have a data visualization of how treatments and medications are helping them get better. While much of this is technical, the opportunity for patients and their health care providers to connect and engage is actually made better with digitalization as everything is transparent and patient-centered.
Increased Scrutiny on Rising Drug Costs
With legislators on both sides of the political spectrum looking for ways to lower the cost of healthcare, Pharma companies are facing new legislation that will require transparency and accountability for seemingly arbitrary price hikes on medications. This is great news for patients as it will aim to put enough pressure on Pharma companies to compete rather than price gouge. This drop in price also means that the aforementioned Physician Dispensing programs will also become much easier for local, private practices on a budget to implement in their offices, making access to medication even more feasible for patients.
Learn more about DirectRx medication dispensing program
DirectRx is a DEA- and FDA-approved pharmaceutical repackaging facility that makes point-of-care medication and dispensing programs possible for licensed healthcare providers.
Our dispensing program includes the prepackaging, labeling, and distribution of dispense-ready, FDA-approved medications in unit-of-use quantities requested by the physician.
We follow a rigorous 20-step quality control process to ensure the purity, quality, safety, and traceability of over 2,000 commonly prescribed medicines in various medication classes. For more information and inquiries, contact us or call us at 678-619-5510.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
