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watching the news these days makes me really wish i wasn't so ridiculously knowledgeable about public policy and economics. that way, it wouldn't be so frustrating seeing everybody missing the point or being stupid. let's see what i'm talking about by looking at three stories getting a lot of play these days.
1. the flu vaccine. this is always ( Read more... )
1. the flu vaccine. this is always ( Read more... )
1) The stat you quote ("18.2% of domestic sales [spent] on R&D" only supports my argument. I had said 22%. Plus, I never said that costs of R&D weren't large, in fact I said they were "mind-bogglingly huge", still, what are they doing with the other 81.2% of the pie? Buying off politicians. Swamping us with ads for Clarinex. Ads that are being challenged for being fraudulent and misleading, mind you. My argument rested on the fact that the industry is also the most profitable, and you've written nothing to challenge this.
2) A senior making $20,000/year makes too much money to qualify for any government programs to help cover the cost of their meds, yet somehow you think it's perfectly feasible for this person to pay $4000/year for 4 maintenance drugs. That's TWENTY PERCENT of his/her yearly income! Even the most right-wing of Republicans is willing to say that it's a problem. And yes, by maintenance I mean drugs that treat chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, etc. not Viagra. How do you expect this person to pay for rent, utilities, food, transportation, and other medical expenses (Medicare ain't cheap, y'know)?
3) About prohibitive start-up costs. Aside from the huge R&D costs, try blaming the industry itself for its anti-competitive practices. Maybe you've heard about the Prescription Access Litigation project, since they're winning cases against drug companies that are trying to stall other companies from marketing their generic versions by submitting false patents. It's called fraud. They know that what they're doing is illegal, they're simply willing to do anything it takes to extend their monopoly. PAL is also taking 28 top pharma companies to court for price-fixing. How's that for anti-competitive?
4) You're right on your last point. My research was definitely done with an opinion already in mind. I worked for a small non-profit dedicated to educating consumers about the health care system and what they can do to change it. Loosening the death-grip the pharmaceutical industry has on Washington would be a good place to start.
-Andrea Pastor
(formerly of the) Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care
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