The Costs of Medicines: The Manufacture and Distribution of Drugs and Medicines in the United States and the Services of Pharmacy in Medical Care.

Abstract

The American people spend approximately $715,000,000 a year for drugs and medicines. Of this amount $190,000,000 represents drugs prescribed or dispensed by physicians, $165,000,000 home remedies, and the remaining $360,000,000 represents "patent medicines." It would seem to be reasonable to believe that at least 80 per cent of the last mentioned item constitutes money that is wasted. Perhaps the use of the "patent medicines" results in serious harm because of dependence on them by those who should be receiving scientific diagnosis and treatment. The data here brought out are of great significance in estimating the manner in which money spent for medical care is being distributed. Incidentally, the investigators find that the same public is spending some $300,000,000 annually for toilet goods. The volume on this subject issued by the Committee on the Costs of Medical Care presents an excellent analysis of the profession of pharmacy and its growth, a