Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan

[Nik+Heather 121]

(snipped)

Not particularly. I see nothing being proposed to check the greed of the insurance companies or the drug companies.

I am curious about where the money comes to fund the research required to develop new drugs. I thought that a lot (not all, I'm sure there are some federal grants out there) this was mostly on the private drug companies, and that they pump their profits on their brand names into research before those brand names go generic. It seems like a lot of corners are already cut to bring it to market faster and with as little investment as possible as it is.

Also, how much new drug development is done in other countries? If there wasn't a profit drive in the US to fund this research, how many new drugs would come out to treat currently un-treatable conditions?

Honest question born from curiosity and ignorance of the details of the subject, not trying to fire you up.

[Down With PMP 0]

(snipped)

Not particularly. I see nothing being proposed to check the greed of the insurance companies or the drug companies.

I am curious about where the money comes to fund the research required to develop new drugs. I thought that a lot (not all, I'm sure there are some federal grants out there) this was mostly on the private drug companies, and that they pump their profits on their brand names into research before those brand names go generic. It seems like a lot of corners are already cut to bring it to market faster and with as little investment as possible as it is.

Also, how much new drug development is done in other countries? If there wasn't a profit drive in the US to fund this research, how many new drugs would come out to treat currently un-treatable conditions?

Honest question born from curiosity and ignorance of the details of the subject, not trying to fire you up.

Pharma companies are gouged by foreign countries like Canada and they make up the difference on the backs of the American people.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've never really bought the cost argument as far as R&D goes - because it doesn't explain why drugs researched and manufactured outside of the US are subject to several-fold price increases for the US consumer...

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Here is an interesting blog post:

Canadian Health Care

In 2007, documentary director Michael Moore released his latest film, entitled "Sicko". The premise of the doc was to compare the American health care industry to other nations, including Canada.

As a proud Canadian myself (eh?), I was forced to watch in disbelief as Moore painted the Canadian health care system as something other countries should aspire to. At several points during this segment, I kept waiting for a Unicorn to come out into the waiting room to announce that Cancer had been cured, and a free vaccine was now available to all.

At no cost, of course.

I feel the need to set a few things straight, and also to point my fellow countrymen to a site where they may be actually able to help affect some change.

The bottom line to the Canadian Health Care system is this: You get what you pay for.

With that in mind, this is the reality: It is absolutely impossible to get yourself a family doctor. A 5 hour wait in the Emergency Waiting Room is considered a brief stay. Government run means government bureaucracy. You will still pay for certain things, any thing that the government can cut out to trim their budget (Ie, a doctor's note for school to explain why you missed class can cost you 10$). Need any kind of specific test or scan? You'll get it, within 6 months to 2 years.

The reason I bring this all up today, is that the situation in my province of Quebec is ridiculously out of control, and quickly getting worse. Any of our readers who are Canadian, or better yet from Quebec, I would urge you to follow this link, read about the issues and get involved.

Simply because something's always been done a certain way, doesn't mean it's right.

- Because I can.

Quote of the Day

"so, working for the government, you probably have to use public transportation?

-Michael Moore, Sicko (2007)

Source: Least I can Do

Edited June 24, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[Niels Bohr 72]

Yep! Massachusetts have the public insurance called Masshealth. I think a number of states has similar service. There's a division of that state service called BMC Healthnet plan that are catered to people of low income levels. They do pay a fee for the plan. Less than the insurer from those people place of employment.

Last time I checked, MA wasn't like CA deficit.

Edited June 24, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Down With PMP 0]

I've never really bought the cost argument as far as R&D goes - because it doesn't explain why drugs researched and manufactured outside of the US are subject to several-fold price increases for the US consumer...

Price is never a function of cost. It's a function of what the market will bear.

[Peikko 1,575]

A lot of research goes on all around the world. It's not just the US that does research and to be honest, I have heard this argument before, that the research is for the public good and would not be carried out if not for private drug companies. The reality is though, that most of the truly remarkable and useful developments are born of either pure curiosity (research for the sake of research) or personal interest and not from the profit motive. Most of the drugs that are produced 'for profit' are for the common diseases - and a lot of it, waaaaaaaaaaaay too much of it is just #######.

[Niels Bohr 72]

There are people who are insured and struggle to support their families. They too demand some leverage on cost. What about them?

Pick off the low hanging fruit, make the most impact with the least effort. Perfection is the enemy of the possible.

Isn't that an excellent idea! There are half of the US population who meet this category. I wish you well with picking these people.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Pharma companies are gouged by foreign countries like Canada and they make up the difference on the backs of the American people.

You're being lied to by pharma whores.

[Down With PMP 0]

...most of the truly remarkable and useful developments are born of either pure curiosity (research for the sake of research) or personal interest ...

Curiosity and personal interest is grounds for many scientific findings. Turning a new finding into a production-ready pharma product takes years and lots of money.

[Peikko 1,575]

Take asthma for instance - lots of people have asthma, lots of very similar drugs marketed and none of them have changed that much over the years, just re vamps of old products and then adverstised on tv! Seriously f'd up.

[Down With PMP 0]

Pharma companies are gouged by foreign countries like Canada and they make up the difference on the backs of the American people.

You're being lied to by pharma whores.

Funny. Pharma people are leaps and bounds smarter than the dolts who work and sell insurance.

[Peikko 1,575]

Then their are diseases no one has ever heard of...who cares?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've never really bought the cost argument as far as R&D goes - because it doesn't explain why drugs researched and manufactured outside of the US are subject to several-fold price increases for the US consumer...

Price is never a function of cost. It's a function of what the market will bear.

Nonsense. You're being lied to by pharma whores.

[Down With PMP 0]

I've never really bought the cost argument as far as R&D goes - because it doesn't explain why drugs researched and manufactured outside of the US are subject to several-fold price increases for the US consumer...

Price is never a function of cost. It's a function of what the market will bear.

Nonsense. You're being lied to by pharma whores.

Pricing 101. I recommend you read a book.