Not for Sale

Samples are a big part of business for pharmaceutical companies in the US and Viet Nam. You may think why would a company want to give out little freebies of their big money making drug? Simple, because it’s direct consumer advertising. The doctor gives you a little taste and you’re hooked for life. Also do you notice the generics seldom give out freebies, but the only the big gun pharma do? That means you’re on hooked for life on the most expensive version of the drug. So that freebie of the brand name becomes a future expense. Ohhh, that sly big pharma.

But in Viet Nam business is done differently with samples. Vietnamese doctors are delighted to receive samples not because their patients will receive free treatment, but because that’s extra income to the physician. Many Viet doctors will take those samples and sell it to a local pharmacy. Moreover, patients seek out to buy these sample items because they believe that the “Not for Sale” label delineates a higher quality medication.