The Prescription Trap

Many Indian patients leave the clinic with long lists of medicines—some necessary, others questionable. Behind the rising tide of polypharmacy lie powerful forces: aggressive marketing, commercial incentives, incomplete evidence, and a healthcare culture that often prioritises prescribing over questioning.

The Prescription Trap is a clear, critical medical guide that looks at how marketing, profits, and systemic pressures shape what ends up on the prescription pad. Written by Dr Samir Contractor, a senior consultant in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, the book helps patients and doctors ask essential questions: Is this medicine necessary? Is it effective? Is it safe? Is there good evidence? Are there better alternatives?

It offers a practical framework for recognising unnecessary prescribing, understanding the influence of the pharmaceutical industry in the Indian context, and making more informed decisions about medicines—without dismissing the genuine value of appropriate treatment.