For physicians and their patients, four issues are of paramount importance: (1) the cost of prescription drugs, (2) having health insurance coverage, (3) access to medical care, and (4) the safety of prescription drugs. In addition to the four issues that resonate with both groups, privacy of medical information is a major concern for consumers, and physicians are particularly concerned about the amount of time they can spend with their patients.

A top concern for both consumers and physicians, safety of prescription and non-prescription drugs has evoked much public debate and scrutiny throughout 2007. In September, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law what is considered to be one of the most powerful drug safety laws in more than 40 years. The law was prompted in part by the withdrawal of Vioxx in addition to concerns over the antidepressant medication Paxil and the diabetes medication Avandia, among others. The law gives FDA the power to require manufacturers to run additional studies, even for already-approved medications.

In the OTC arena, several major manufacturers of children’s cough/cold medicines pulled several medicines off the store shelves in October 2007. Fourteen different OTC medicines targeted at infants (i.e., children under two years old) were recalled, including Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol Plus Cold and Novartis AG’s Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant. Days after the recall, FDA held hearings about the safety and testing of OTC medications for pediatric patients.