Posted by Susan J on February 17, 2004, at 18:28:12
In reply to Drug Company Ripoffs--Now What?, posted by cubbybear on February 17, 2004, at 8:26:20
Are you in the States? There have been bills here and there that are trying to relax patent protections for brand named drugs. Right now manufacturers get a 20-year monopoly to their drug, and only when generics are produced is there any price competition to keep prices down. Unfortunatelty, some manufacturers have been paying generic drug-makers money to delay the release of their drugs on the markets....which to me is an antitrust issue, but I haven't been following it lately. I'd write to your congress person....
The other thing inflating drug prices is direct-to-consumer marketing on TV, radio, and print ads. This makes consumers want the new and improved *purple pill* or whatever, and increases demand AND its price. Another thing Congress has to address...
And manufacturers are making, last time I checked, about a 38% profit on drug sales. That's a 38% profit OVER AND ABOVE their costs for research and development, which is what they always say is their highest cost, and if they didn't *charge* so much for drugs, they wouldn't be able to conduct cutting-edge research on drug therapies..... Pharmacies themselves only make about a 2% net profit. I don't think that difference is too fair....I don't begrudge anyone a fair profit, but the drug co's are making way too much.
Unfortunately, the drug manufacturers are HUGE contributors to all political campaigns, so everybody owes them something.
I think federal law is the only way to stop this one, personally, which means finding enough motiviation in Congress to actually *do* something about it. Right now the states seem to be going after pharmacy benefit managers (PBMS) that manage drug benefits for health insurance plans. They are like a middle man, and not really the problem. I think it's all the $$ manufacturers give to the politicians that is keeping Congress et al from scrutinizing the drug companies...
But I feel your pain.
poster:Susan J
thread:314547
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040215/msgs/314866.html