many times patients complain that doctors order more tests or perform more expensive procedures than required. Now sophisticated new computer models will enable millions of patients to analyse their medical records and help them determine the cheapest and the most effective way of treatment. The largest us hospital company, Columbia/ hca health care Corp is paying us $1.12 billion for Value Health Inc whose Value Health Sciences data unit analyses prescription and hospital data.

Drug companies also are paying big money for the information because they need to know how their drugs are used in a managed-care setting