Into the thick of it: How to be a discerning consultant
By
Hooked on a Feeling
The pharmaceutical industry is addicted to making money. So much so that they refuse the recommendations of experts and doctors to protect their own financial interests.
In an industry that should be patient-centric, off kilter priorities have led to decision-making based on profits rather than people. Often, Big Pharma prioritizes things like marketing and financial gain over the condition and wellbeing of patients. The results of that industry having its priorities out of whack are undesirable health outcomes and extraordinarily higher pricing for patients seeking necessary and, in many cases, crucial treatment.
This was true when I was navigating the healthcare system back in 2017, trying to secure high-cost medications for my family members, and it remains the same today. You may be asking yourself, “Why would companies that claim to help us and improve our lives, behave in a way that is highly unethical?”
Dog Eat Dog World
Simply put, increasing existing wealth remains the primary focus of the pharmaceutical industry, but they never say that publicly.
The values upheld in the industry fuels the existence of companies that align with these values. They choose to indulge in the current environment rather than systemically uproot the misguided motives during current philosophies.
Lobbying & the Internet
Consider the political action agenda: Many industries lobby elected officials to keep themselves afloat. Lobbying is a practice that has been going on for years, but now industries are no longer solely dependent on government officials to push their agendas through. These traditional Pharmacy Benefit Managers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and pharmacies can simply turn to the internet as an additional resource to further their deceptive narratives.
As of January 2023, the Internet reached over five trillion megabytes of data. It now serves as the most influential source of information, but not everything we discover on the Internet is reliable, true, authentic, or correct.
Moreover, misunderstandings; honest mistakes; exaggerations; and disinformation spread with a malicious intent can cause people to make poor decisions for themselves and their company.
Monopoly – It is All a Game
The conventional pharmaceutical industry is perpetually feeding false information that continues to enrich an industry making billions of dollars in revenue. To carry on the charade, they continue to paint themselves as fledgling organizations with limited resources.
This has created a monopoly, ensuring the patient in need stays dependent on them for survival. But below the surface is the revelation that scarce resources and billions of dollars in profits do not go hand in hand.
Three Ways to Spot Misinformation
Many are unaware of what happens behind the scenes because we lack ‘inside’ information, and the pharmacy giants are masters at manipulating their public message to meet their agenda.
It can be difficult to see the true intentions of any given source. Through my own experiences, I have found three ways to gain a more critical eye with the things I’m seeing:
- Check for Biases. Does the source have a financial interest spin on their message?
- Read Between the Lines. What is not being said? Are there any parties being protected or omitted from the story?
- Is it true? Just because it is in writing, does not make it true. I often see the same talking points echoed across various platforms and a lie said multiple times is still a lie.
Misinformation in Action
I’ve seen the talking point in several articles that states “alternative funding organizations are robbing from charities which will leave the destitute without access to medications.” While this is certainly an emotionally charged statement, let’s apply our three criteria to this and see what we find.
- When checking for biases it comes clear that each party that makes this claim has a close financial tie to Big Pharma.
- These articles will point fingers at many parties, like PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and even SHARx and yet they never acknowledge the role that Big Pharma plays.
- I know exactly how the patient assistance foundations are setup and to call them a charity with limited resources is just simply not true.
Time for an Awakening
My advice to you, the discerning consultant: do not be fooled. As a trusted advisor, you can push back against the deception and bring light to your clients and their employees. Be the hero for those who are desperately lacking both the coverage and the understanding needed to receive the treatment they deserve.
We will continue to advance into turbulent territory with the same enterprise and passion as you have come to expect.