It's a constant theme from the Lefties these days. As usual, there are some some things they fail to understand.
Noteworthy excerpt:
"Getting drug policy right depends mainly on getting that difference straight—the difference, that is, between ministering to the sick and making medicines—and grasping its implications from the start. Big Pharma’s critics do not even try."
We can leave the discussion about Medicare Part D for a different but related thread.
Joe, this is your field. What say you?
Bubba,
ReplyDeleteGlad you are blogging. As much as you commented around the local scene, we could have all started one for you.
Big Pharma is a problem. But, the bigger problem is the FDA. They push through drugs that have more side effects then benefits and then allow Big Pharma to manage the side effects with other drugs. The FDA is as corrupt and bought a they come.
I did a blog post a while back titled "The Legalized Drug Dealer", and it was an op-ed on how a room full of patients get left waiting while the drug rep goes right back to see the doctor. You should check it out.
I have dealt with a lot of people in the medical industry in the past few years, like any other industry some good and some bad. Doctors are at the will of Big Pharma, whatever they are pushing is what is being prescribed.
The administration not allowing price negotiations is a large problem as well. Just for example, Viagra in Canada for 15 pills is $75. Here in the US it is around $270 for the same pills. Why is that?
I see no reason why the Gov't can't give us socialized medicine, besides the fact that it would take out of the pockets of those getting rich.
We are rapidly becoming the most unhealthy developed country in the world. I have said before and will repeat here, a healthy workforce is a strong workforce. The health of this country is extremely important to every aspect of the US economy and survival in a gobalized world.
All in all...Big anything is bad.
"I see no reason why the Gov't can't give us socialized medicine....."
ReplyDeleteI don't expect that you would, given the way you ended that sentence.
I don't suppose you think the patient bears any blame for the problem either.
Since you're a musician, you might appreciate this:
"Doctor please, some more of these.
Outside the door, she took four more.
What a drag it is getting old."
Sure there is a small percent of patients that abuse having medications. If you are implying that I would follow your dialouge, maybe many years ago, but today I bearly take tylenol for anything. Personal responsibility is just that, personal. There will be a few bad apples in every bunch, but the rest shouldn't suffer because of it. If we can spend $440 billion on bombs a year, we can provide a little health care for our people, the same people who pay for those bombs. Your great home state of Mass is implementing a mandatory coverage policy for health care, we'll see how it works. I hope well.
ReplyDeleteYou missed the point: Those lyrics to the Rolling Stones' "Mother's Little Helper" details the fact that patients have been finagling physicians for drugs for years.
ReplyDeleteI wonder "how small" that situation is.
As far as your "bombs vs.health care" comment, that's an agendized political and social comment that has no validity. It's a false choice.
Big Pharma and the FDA are problems. What I think is happening is that the United States is basically subsidizing the drug needs of the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to talk about gaming the system, that is the biggest game in town. All you have to do is make the right contributions to the right people and you can simply have the ability to negotiate lower price for drugs stripped out of the final part D bill.
If you can't see that this is a transparent pander to Big Pharma then you may want to get your prescription refilled... :)