“Take Prilosec for instance.Cheap now,expensive when it first became available.”Cheap because the patent protections ran out, etc. It is no longer promoted by Pharm. salespeople to Doctors.
Tax Man said: “It is the FDA that puts the rules in place. It is the rules and the redundancy that drives up the cost. But we can’t blame the government.”
-Too true, Tax Man. It would be inappropriate to blame the government in every case but we should always be aware of the unintended consequences of government rules and should always be on the lookout for ways and opportunities to hold the government accountable for its performance. Excusing the government from responsibility does it, and us, no favors.
So many good points. Let me add one: the advertising of medications to the public. If I was in charge, that would be made illegal as one of my first acts.
The fact that an ad tells you that a medication makes your problems better in no way makes that ad correct. Diet and exercise will often make high blood pressure reduce or even disappear. Sure, there are meds, but they cost, and have side effects. But the pharmaceutical companies are pushing their pills, and they know that doctors might suggest non-medication methods first. So they go direct to the public: “Tell your doctor you demand this product, because you’ve done 30 seconds of TV research, and you know what you need.”
Horse hockey.
Also, consider what this does to the cost of meds. How much does it cost for thirty seconds on the Super Bowl? You pay for that. Even if your prescription is not the one advertised, it’s made by the same people who advertise the drug. You pay for it. More than once. This is one good reason why the same drugs cost less in other countries.
There was a study I read where doctors were interviewed about their prescribing methods. Those doctors who prescribed whatever their patients asked for were asked why they did so. The most repeated answer, by far, was that it would take too long to make the patient understand why the request was not legitimate. This casts a pall on the current state of health “care” in this country, but it is inter-related.
The model for healthcare delivery in this country is doomed to failure. Obamacare has taken some of the egregious issues out of the mainstream, like the exclusion for pre-existing conditions, but it is only a bandage and not a cure.
There are other factors, due mostly to lobbying. The first draft of Medicare part D (the drug plan) was that the government subcontractors (private insurance companies) were required to negotiate the lowest possible drug cost, and those savings were required to be passed on to the patient. The final bill stated that those savings were SUGGESTED to be passed along to the patient. In other words, buy as cheap as you can, but charge what you want.
The total cost of developing Lunesta and Cialis were paid off in the first week after FDA allowed them to advertise on television, and they’re both still very expensive. Omeperozole (Prilosec) is available generic, and pretty cheap, but the “Cable Guy” is getting pretty wealthy off the branded version.(BTW: the generic at some sources is also made in Israel, not the U.S..)
GoComics over 9 years ago
If America were to use sick African people as medical guinea pigs to test an experimental ebola serum, would that be morally acceptable?
Mneedle over 9 years ago
It amazes me to hear lefties blame everything on corporations. I. Wonder how many stocks are in masterskrain’s retirement account.
Mneedle over 9 years ago
It is the FDA that puts the rules in place. It is the rules and the redundancy that drives up the cost. But we can’t blame the government.
eugene57 over 9 years ago
“Take Prilosec for instance.Cheap now,expensive when it first became available.”Cheap because the patent protections ran out, etc. It is no longer promoted by Pharm. salespeople to Doctors.
TripleAxel over 9 years ago
Tax Man said: “It is the FDA that puts the rules in place. It is the rules and the redundancy that drives up the cost. But we can’t blame the government.”
-Too true, Tax Man. It would be inappropriate to blame the government in every case but we should always be aware of the unintended consequences of government rules and should always be on the lookout for ways and opportunities to hold the government accountable for its performance. Excusing the government from responsibility does it, and us, no favors.
I Play One On TV over 9 years ago
So many good points. Let me add one: the advertising of medications to the public. If I was in charge, that would be made illegal as one of my first acts.
The fact that an ad tells you that a medication makes your problems better in no way makes that ad correct. Diet and exercise will often make high blood pressure reduce or even disappear. Sure, there are meds, but they cost, and have side effects. But the pharmaceutical companies are pushing their pills, and they know that doctors might suggest non-medication methods first. So they go direct to the public: “Tell your doctor you demand this product, because you’ve done 30 seconds of TV research, and you know what you need.”
Horse hockey.
Also, consider what this does to the cost of meds. How much does it cost for thirty seconds on the Super Bowl? You pay for that. Even if your prescription is not the one advertised, it’s made by the same people who advertise the drug. You pay for it. More than once. This is one good reason why the same drugs cost less in other countries.
There was a study I read where doctors were interviewed about their prescribing methods. Those doctors who prescribed whatever their patients asked for were asked why they did so. The most repeated answer, by far, was that it would take too long to make the patient understand why the request was not legitimate. This casts a pall on the current state of health “care” in this country, but it is inter-related.
The model for healthcare delivery in this country is doomed to failure. Obamacare has taken some of the egregious issues out of the mainstream, like the exclusion for pre-existing conditions, but it is only a bandage and not a cure.
There are other factors, due mostly to lobbying. The first draft of Medicare part D (the drug plan) was that the government subcontractors (private insurance companies) were required to negotiate the lowest possible drug cost, and those savings were required to be passed on to the patient. The final bill stated that those savings were SUGGESTED to be passed along to the patient. In other words, buy as cheap as you can, but charge what you want.
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
The total cost of developing Lunesta and Cialis were paid off in the first week after FDA allowed them to advertise on television, and they’re both still very expensive. Omeperozole (Prilosec) is available generic, and pretty cheap, but the “Cable Guy” is getting pretty wealthy off the branded version.(BTW: the generic at some sources is also made in Israel, not the U.S..)