US Healthcare reform

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number5: That is a completely inaccurate and slanderous description of the drug development process. All new drugs are rigorously tested in animal models before any human would take it. Yes, there are clinical trials, but it's not some evil shady process like you describe it. I know a number of researchers, and they work very hard at doing as much of the development as possible using animal models or, even better, some computerized models that are starting to be developed. Some potential new drugs are even screened against bacteria before they move testing up to animals.

Orwell, you cannot seriously mean to imply that the pharmacutical industry is all on the up and up. I'm sure that researchers and scientists that you know are intelligent human beings of high moral character. These are not the same people in charge of the books and they likely have no knowledge of any clinical studies other than their own or marketing practices used by their companies.

Business is booming for the drug companies. People are on more drugs now than they were in the 60's and 70's - and these ones are legal. Antidepressants alone brought in 9.6 billion in US sales in 2008 (usage more than doubled since 1996), and I asure you, we're not any happier, or healthier. The prices consumers pay for these drugs are rediculous, and they vary greatly depending on your insurer and whether or not you pay in cash. Most of the money we pay for prescription drugs goes towards marketing and CEO salaries. Let's take Lipitor, for example. On a $100 prescription, 35% goes to marketing, 26% goes to manufacturing and salaries, 24% goes to profit, and 15% goes to research and development. And speaking of research and development, most clinical trials are now funded by the drug companies themselves and are contracted out to for-profit organizations - major conflict of interest here. Very little research and development is even done at academic instituions anymore.

Patents are yet another way the consumer is getting screwed. With a patent, a drug maker has exclusive manufacturing right on a drug for 20 years so no generic is allowed during that time. Generics cost about 2/3's less than the brand name. What companies are doing now is simply refreshing a drug that is nearing that 20 year mark. They make a time-release version or combine the drug with another one for a new illness, or even claim a patent on an inactive ingredient. This extends the patent protection by 3 years.

Drug companies also spend tons of cash on influencing Washington. I suspect they may be a large factor in why real healthcare reform hasn't happened yet. And I know that democrats are just as guilty (greedy) as republicans when it comes to accepting favors.

Here's what I know: Last time I took my kid to see the pediatrician, there were two suits in the waiting in the waiting room to see the doctor (clearly not patients). When we got into the office, there was a sign saying "If you have a baby between 2 and 4 months, ask us about our new clinical study about the so and so vaccine (I can't recall the name) on a drug company letterhead. The doc gives us a prescription, using a "Crestor" pen, for a new antibiotic (no generic available yet). I asked if the medication was necessary, and the doctor said "No, you certainly could wait a few days to see if things improve on their own," which they did. Then my husband calls and says he can't make it because he got a massive last-minute catering order for one of his major pharm rep customers.

Maybe your sense of smell isn't too good, because something sure as heck stinks!

I don't want healthcare, PERIOUD!

The problem with a private assurance system it's that the more you need it, the less likely you gonna get it. Those who get the best insurances are rich and healthy, while those who poor and sicks must pay from their pockets.
According good medical treatements to everyone is, like education, a humanitarian obligation and it's certainly not with purely private interests that it can be done.
The acessibility of healthcare can also be a important element in prevention, as regular visits to general praticians can provide informations, education and a survey of symptoms. General lifestyle is not the only thing that influence prevention.

Healthcare...


So I'm guessing that this will most likely end up benefiting the insurance companies while hurting both patients and doctors in the end.


...Is that about right?


Sorry but the same old repetition is getting boring for me. The rampant corporatism is just pathetic at this point.

Sadly, the Obama health care reform is nothing but a federal power grab that will destroy the health care industry in America.

I hope it fails big time.

There is nothing wrong with a "for profit" health care system. Everyone in the system, from doctors to drug companies, have people who need to eat and that happens when they sell a good or service at a profit.

The corporate takeover of health care is a major issue. Doctors and hospitals are collapsing under the weight of idiotic paperwork they do just to get paid by insurance companies. Government regulation has its place, but much of it is nothing but a millstone around medicine's collective neck.

Before a lot of "improvements" to health care was made, most people could afford to see a doctor when they needed to, and doctors could afford to keep their costs down. Not so anymore.

For your reading interest...the high points of what Obama wants to do here in the USA.

http://lc.org/media/9980/attachments/he ... 072909.pdf