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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cubbybear on February 17, 2004, at 8:26:20
For whatever it's worth, who do we--the Rx drug consumers-- contact or write to, to raise hell about price increases (aside from the drug companies themselves)? As I posted a few days ago, there's evidently been a 40% increase in the price of Parnate since last year.
I've read that the FDA is just buddy-buddy with the drug companies, so maybe there's another organization or entity to contact (not Pres. Bush, thank you). Does anyone know?
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.
Posted by c ubbybear on February 18, 2004, at 1:06:38
In reply to What I would do.... » cubbybear, posted by Susan J on February 17, 2004, at 18:28:12
Thanks for your very informative post.
I'm an American citizen living in Thailand and haven't been a registered voter for years. Don't even know who the Cong. reps. are in my former district (not that they do anything anyway). I guess writing to the lawmakers is the best thing to do, however. I'll also chat with my uncle, who's a former Dean at the U. of Penn. Law School and his area of expertise is patents and copyrights.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 18, 2004, at 19:22:10
In reply to Drug Company Ripoffs--Now What?, posted by cubbybear on February 17, 2004, at 8:26:20
> For whatever it's worth, who do we--the Rx drug consumers-- contact or write to, to raise hell about price increases (aside from the drug companies themselves)?
I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040209/msgs/315321.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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