Why do we pay so much for prescription drugs???

[SeattleRob]

Because our politicians are bought and sold by the Pharmaceutical companies.

Case in point, Frist:

Frist a frequent flier on drug companies' jets

Lawmakers don't pay full charter costs

By BILL THEOBALD
Tennessean Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist has been ferried on corporate aircraft more than most other politicians in Washington over the past five years, according to a study released this week.

The Senate majority leader's travels were ranked seventh by PoliticalMoneyLine, a company based in Washington that tracks money in politics. He reimbursed companies $69,030 for flying on their planes from 2001 to 2005.

Link to article:

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/NEWS02/603090417

[LeftHander]

1. Because we are the cash cow...

for big pharma...

And the millions they spend on advertising.

I stopped watching TV about two years ago and I sat down and watched 30 minutes of prime time and was shocked ant how many of the commercials are now drug commercials...

:puke:

[Divernan]

6. Big Pharma is NOT spending $$$$ on researching new drugs,

which has always been their explanation as to why they had to charge so much. The only research they really work on is making minute changes to drugs whose patents are about to expire, or alternatively in the amount of time it takes for ugly side effects to generate lawsuits and bad publicity. Then the drug company reps (who are hired for their looks - really knockout young women/men) and the huge advertising budgets are devoted to how great this NEW drug is for whatever ails you, and be sure and instruct your doc to prescribe it ASAP. Then lots of one month free samples to the docs to encourage them to switch their patients over to from the old drug.


There was an article cited on DU recently about how drug companies were NOT following up on the monitoring programs on drug effects, which the companies agreed to do in exchange for early approval of said drugs. The article explained further that the Bush FDA does not push or punish Big Pharma for blowing off the followup.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. And those commercials end with the admonition to ask your

doctor about . . . . I know some people who honestly seem proud to have been prescribed the latest, greatest and most expensive drug available. The drug companies know that if they can appeal to these people that they will insist that their doctor get them on this new wonder drug ASAP.

[loyalsister]

2. Don't forget the partners in crime

Insurance and the Insured who think both are doing them a favor.
It's a very good scam.
There is no outcry because most people don't truly know how much is spent when they get a prescription.
They just pay their copoay and walk away grateful to live in the country with the best health care in the world.
That number is decreasing and more people are begining to feel some outrage, but when they received what they needed to keep their kids in good health, they had no reason to be outraged. In fact they only had reason to feel gratitude and support for pharmas R&D.

[AllegroRondo]

3. profits

Pharmacuticals have the highest profit margin of any industry. And thats after spending billions each year on advertizing.

[Cleita]

4. So that the CEO's and top management of the drug companies

can afford their yachts and expensive vacation homes. I'm not kidding either. The perks and benefits these clowns get are more than kings in other countries get. I don't believe that they are spending as much money on testing as they claim to. If they were, there wouldn't be all the recalls that are happening today.

Oh, yes and the advertising too. We need a law banning advertising to the general public. We don't need to know about the drugs. Our doctors and medical professionals do and they should go back to the old fashioned way of advertising in medical journals and sending salespeople to the medical professionals to show them the literature on the latest new pharmaceuticals available.

[Felix Mala]

5. The foxes are in charge of all the chicken coops.

Medicine - Healthcare - Power - Fuel

They're making hay while the Fortunate SON is shining.

[dogday]

8. Because our politicians have stock and vested interest

in these companies and zero interest in us.....

[buckettgirl]

9. Not that this isn't valid...

But really... one reason we pay so much for prescription drugs is because most people expect there to be a miracle pill for every little cough, sniffle, headache and major disease.
We pay so much because so many people are willing to pay for it.
People go to a doctor and demand an antibiotic for a viral infection... and the doctor's do it.
It all goes hand in hand. The pharmaceutical industry is a monster and the blame can be spread to everything.

[SeattleRob]

10. true... but...

But really... one reason we pay so much for prescription drugs is because most people expect there to be a miracle pill for every little cough, sniffle, headache and major disease.


Ask yourself why this is? Don't you think all the commercials by big pharm companies are a strong factor in all of this? The message of these commercials is "take a pill" and all your troubles will go away.

[buckettgirl]

11. I think it is a cycle

I really think the common belief is that we are supposed to have the best and provide the best (to those who can pay at least-you're screwed if you can't pay)
This is actually something we have been talking about in my Healthcare Systems class - the beliefs American's generally have about healthcare.
The general idea is one of "if I get sick, they have a pill to fix me." I think this idea has been around longer than pharmaceutical commercials, but I do agree that pharmaceutical commercials also perpetuate it.
The pharmaceutical industry is a blood-sucking vampire and it is inherently wrong that they do their share to control the government and get the legislation they want that ultimately hurts healthcare consumers (everyone). Its not right that the drug companies own the doctors as well.
However (and I am taking this thought back several generations), it was allowed to snowball into this incredible monster because Americans have held the common belief that they can go to the doctor and get a pill to fix anything.
It is a self-perpetuating cycle.

[Cleita]

12. Well, the fact is that here in the USA the pharmaceutical

companies can charge what they like. In other countries, like Canada, or the UK, the health agencies barter with the drug companies for a lower price, which is why you can get the same drug in those countries for often half of what they cost here.