Aa
Bucking the Big Pharmas
We complain here about the high cost of meds. I found this article about trying to produce interferon at more affordable prices of interest. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn10873
Please read this interview from a vp at Pfizer. Pharma companies aren't ethical, no matter what pr they spin:
http://gnhealth.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1040
http://gnhealth.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1040
i agree we all have the right to free speech. that's why i threw my 2 cents in, and welcome yours. and i agree it definately is not all about money. that's the point actually-we have the right to the pursuit of happiness, not the right to happiness. in other workd we still have to find our own happiness.
FSG: I agree. Its complicated, isn't it?
antman: I love this country too. I love the constitution and the bill of rights.
This country used to stand for freedom. That freedom included the freedom of speech. I will not curse at you or call you names because you believe differently than I. There is no need to be angry over words typed by a stranger.
The multi-national corporations main guiding light is greed. Unfortunately so seems to be our politicians and many of the people here. Yet, more and more people are finding themselves feeling empty and unfulfilled because "things" do not give one a sense of caring and love. Consumerism has consumed our natural resources and our values.
I am sorry antman if you see my words as whining. I see it as calling a spade, a spade.
If you want to hear whining, I'll talk about my hair.
antman: I love this country too. I love the constitution and the bill of rights.
This country used to stand for freedom. That freedom included the freedom of speech. I will not curse at you or call you names because you believe differently than I. There is no need to be angry over words typed by a stranger.
The multi-national corporations main guiding light is greed. Unfortunately so seems to be our politicians and many of the people here. Yet, more and more people are finding themselves feeling empty and unfulfilled because "things" do not give one a sense of caring and love. Consumerism has consumed our natural resources and our values.
I am sorry antman if you see my words as whining. I see it as calling a spade, a spade.
If you want to hear whining, I'll talk about my hair.
you guys sound like a bunch of whining ingrates. everything sucks, drug companies suck, the govt. sucks, capitalism sucks, oil companies suck, insurance companies,on and on. how about gas in europe costing 3 bucks- a litre, or the guy that posts here from europe that they don't even allow rescue drugs at all! and if you want to see corruption go to any number of 3rd world countries and demand free stuff, just try it. not once do i hear any of you say, ya know mabe we have it made here. with all it's faults i would rather live here than anywhere else in this world. and if one puts forth just a little effort you can have whatever you want, or a least need. i don't see anyone stampeding to get out of this country. quite the opposite. there i'm done. just tired of you complaining all the time. suck it up.
I agree with you, but I think Big Pharma is only part of the problem...I think there is a lot of public apathy in this country...as long as most of us have our big screen TVs and other toys, and we make enough money to pay our bills...we just don't wanna know, we think it's too big of a problem to put our arms around...many of us don't watch the candidates we're voting for, if we vote at all, these lobbies and corps have so much power and we should all be watching...
I think for things that concern life and death, like Big Pharma and the medical industry, there should be full disclosure, just to see how much goes into research and development as opposed to everything else? there's gotta be regulations...
My doc told me about these huge arena sized drug marketing conventions, with all these samples being handed out like hair products.....why do we need 10 competing drugs doing all the same thing, and all the money that goes into marketing to make sure we buy the blue one instead of the pink one? ....it's getting way out of control...
And they do have these really good looking female marketing reps go the hospitals and doctors offices plying their particular drugs to the buyers...if Big Pharma is holding us hostage, then let's find ways for them to work with the public in a more constructive ways, through the legislature, etc...Cause there are a lot of peole who fall through the cracks, they make too much money to be considered poor enough, yet they can't afford their medical care and drugs...
I mean, have you ever seen so many drug commercials in your life? Every other minute, it's some new drug being touted...with the requisite side effects at the end, it's a joke...Why don't we get endless commercials on lifestyle changes, instead of 6 drugs that wouldn't have to be taken anyway - if one *did* make the required lifestyle changes? Cause there's no money in it...
And I know too many people who ended up taking too many drugs for too many problems who did more damage to themselves by clogging up their filtering organs, like the liver for instance...I'm sorry, but some of these docs aren't as responsible as they should be, and are little more then government sanctioned drug pushers...This guy was telling me he got 60 high powered Oxycontin a month, for a chronic back ache,,,he laughed and told me if he really took all that, he wouldn't be able to move, set aside his back...
Course, for something like what we have, I'm glad that we can avail ourselves of the drugs they can give to us...and I'm glad for research and development, of coure I am...they are working on life saving drugs for people...but this other stuff is way out of control...sorry if I ruffle any feathers, just my opinions...and no, I'm not a communist, ha ha!
I think for things that concern life and death, like Big Pharma and the medical industry, there should be full disclosure, just to see how much goes into research and development as opposed to everything else? there's gotta be regulations...
My doc told me about these huge arena sized drug marketing conventions, with all these samples being handed out like hair products.....why do we need 10 competing drugs doing all the same thing, and all the money that goes into marketing to make sure we buy the blue one instead of the pink one? ....it's getting way out of control...
And they do have these really good looking female marketing reps go the hospitals and doctors offices plying their particular drugs to the buyers...if Big Pharma is holding us hostage, then let's find ways for them to work with the public in a more constructive ways, through the legislature, etc...Cause there are a lot of peole who fall through the cracks, they make too much money to be considered poor enough, yet they can't afford their medical care and drugs...
I mean, have you ever seen so many drug commercials in your life? Every other minute, it's some new drug being touted...with the requisite side effects at the end, it's a joke...Why don't we get endless commercials on lifestyle changes, instead of 6 drugs that wouldn't have to be taken anyway - if one *did* make the required lifestyle changes? Cause there's no money in it...
And I know too many people who ended up taking too many drugs for too many problems who did more damage to themselves by clogging up their filtering organs, like the liver for instance...I'm sorry, but some of these docs aren't as responsible as they should be, and are little more then government sanctioned drug pushers...This guy was telling me he got 60 high powered Oxycontin a month, for a chronic back ache,,,he laughed and told me if he really took all that, he wouldn't be able to move, set aside his back...
Course, for something like what we have, I'm glad that we can avail ourselves of the drugs they can give to us...and I'm glad for research and development, of coure I am...they are working on life saving drugs for people...but this other stuff is way out of control...sorry if I ruffle any feathers, just my opinions...and no, I'm not a communist, ha ha!
course, youre entitled to your views, as I am mine, but this part of the forum was made specifically to discuss issues other then hepatitis per se (if we want to.) I don't think many sub-par situations would get changed if all - if all we did is feel glad to have what we got and not complain or demand change....I'm not the type to settle for corruption, I don't care how much better we have it then Russia, for instance...
Instead of feeling complacent, and "sucking it up" I think those of us who want change, should actively try to get change implemented...through various means...One of the great things about this country is that we can have *some* kind of a say in the procedings here...and work for various issues we care deeply about...and talk about them if we'd like:)
If you want to play the "comparison" game, that can work both ways...my sister had liver and kidney failure in England, was legally dead for a little bit, (she was an alcoholic) and the hospital there took the best care of her, they did unbelivable things, like have a nurse with her 24 hours a day...have a physical therapist come in every day to move her arms and legs for her circulation, call in the best specialists, even from other cities to consult..all the while, knowing she didn't have any insurance, and was for all purposes broke...they never asked her for a dime...ever, they just saved her life...
Can you imagine what kind of treatment she would of gotten here? with no insurance? at a country hospital? All I know is that it wouldn't have been that, not in most cases...she probably would of died here, and the docs here told her as much...some of these countries value life above all things in their medical systems...yes, we have it great in many respects, and we do have programs for the indigent...much better then most of the world....but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, or that we shouldnt at least try to improve things...things shouldn't ALWAYS be about money...particulary when people's lives are on the line...
Instead of feeling complacent, and "sucking it up" I think those of us who want change, should actively try to get change implemented...through various means...One of the great things about this country is that we can have *some* kind of a say in the procedings here...and work for various issues we care deeply about...and talk about them if we'd like:)
If you want to play the "comparison" game, that can work both ways...my sister had liver and kidney failure in England, was legally dead for a little bit, (she was an alcoholic) and the hospital there took the best care of her, they did unbelivable things, like have a nurse with her 24 hours a day...have a physical therapist come in every day to move her arms and legs for her circulation, call in the best specialists, even from other cities to consult..all the while, knowing she didn't have any insurance, and was for all purposes broke...they never asked her for a dime...ever, they just saved her life...
Can you imagine what kind of treatment she would of gotten here? with no insurance? at a country hospital? All I know is that it wouldn't have been that, not in most cases...she probably would of died here, and the docs here told her as much...some of these countries value life above all things in their medical systems...yes, we have it great in many respects, and we do have programs for the indigent...much better then most of the world....but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, or that we shouldnt at least try to improve things...things shouldn't ALWAYS be about money...particulary when people's lives are on the line...
The big Pharmaceutical companies make larger profits than the oil companies. Thier research is essentially on how to make more money. My research/heptologist is concerned with the direction the research is going in; towards control of HCV, not towards cure. Now which makes more money? And how come this stuff is so expensive but we get prefilled shots and if your dosage is reduced, you squirt the extra out? You throw it away, polluting the water and poisoning wild life as you do.
I benefit from the programs but I think they are availble to keep us, Americans, quiet. There are no breaks, no programs for those infected in Asia, Africa etc.
nygirl: If you retail 300 mg of neupogen at your local pharmacy, they are priced at $2000/ shot. Slightly off the subject; There is a lot of money available on research to prove cannabis is harmful. Just try and find funds to prove the opposite. Yet AIDs and cancer patients swear its helping them. Let the Pharmas, synthesize it, put it in a pill, patented and only available by prescription, and it'll be advertised everywhere as the new miracle drug.
I benefit from the programs but I think they are availble to keep us, Americans, quiet. There are no breaks, no programs for those infected in Asia, Africa etc.
nygirl: If you retail 300 mg of neupogen at your local pharmacy, they are priced at $2000/ shot. Slightly off the subject; There is a lot of money available on research to prove cannabis is harmful. Just try and find funds to prove the opposite. Yet AIDs and cancer patients swear its helping them. Let the Pharmas, synthesize it, put it in a pill, patented and only available by prescription, and it'll be advertised everywhere as the new miracle drug.
these drugs are expensive, true. but can you imagine what it costs to develop and bring them to market? it takes years and years. also, i doubt if your insurance co. is paying retail. they negotiate the prices.so the real cost is never the same. plus, i don't think there is any conspiracy to hide the assistance programs from people. from what i read here it's pretty simple to get the freebies from the manufacturer. i am personally grateful they even have a drug to tx this disease and am glad they're working on new ones.
It truly IS unbelievable just how much all the meds we need cost.
When you think it's $6,000 for a box of only ten vials of Epogen - and I was using 2 a week so that was relatively 6k a MONTH for that alone...well its mind blowing.
I just LOVE how the doctors say it's a $20,000 treatment, that makes me laugh so hard. The way I figured it with all meds and tests involved it cost my insurance company about $200,000 for my total treatment so far.
How nuts is that? HOW are people without insurance who don't know about the big drug assistance programs supposed to treat? Oh that's right...I guess since they have the "druggie" disease and they don't work it doesn't matter.
URGH blood BOILING now again. I swear one day it's gonna blow out of my vains.
When you think it's $6,000 for a box of only ten vials of Epogen - and I was using 2 a week so that was relatively 6k a MONTH for that alone...well its mind blowing.
I just LOVE how the doctors say it's a $20,000 treatment, that makes me laugh so hard. The way I figured it with all meds and tests involved it cost my insurance company about $200,000 for my total treatment so far.
How nuts is that? HOW are people without insurance who don't know about the big drug assistance programs supposed to treat? Oh that's right...I guess since they have the "druggie" disease and they don't work it doesn't matter.
URGH blood BOILING now again. I swear one day it's gonna blow out of my vains.
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