posted on May 19, 2005 08:51:40 AM new
Pharmaceutical Costs
Merrill Goozner, the author of The 800 Million Dollar Pill, presented a critical look at the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Americans pay the highest price for drugs, because most other countries have national health plans which are able to negotiate with the suppliers. Because in America there is a highly fragmented system of numerous health care providers, the suppliers are in a "better bargaining position" to name their prices, he explained.
Goozner detailed how Cox-2 Inhibitor drugs such as Vioxx were advertised as breakthrough pain killers, when actually they were no more effective than over-the-counter medications like aspirin. This occurred around the time that direct consumer advertising for pharmaceuticals became legal, so many patients were blanketed by TV commercials touting the new drugs. Not only did the prescriptions cost much much more than the over-the-counter pain killers, it was later revealed that the Cox-2 drugs were associated with heart attack risk, a fact that had been kept from the public for years. "That's not health care, it's business," declared Goozner.
posted on May 19, 2005 10:10:07 AM new
Another intelligent post by crowfarm. Pharmacutical companies have been charging high prices for quite some time. Now what has this to do with National Health Care. If it would have been started 10 years ago as promised we wouldn't be talking about this today. Get a life crowfarm.
posted on May 19, 2005 10:22:26 AM new
Oh libra, (whine, snivel whine)you bad lady..."stocking" my every post(snivel whine).
You are a "stocker" and a big meany(cry, whine)
But it's so comforting to know that once again you haven't had a new idea or original thought in your life and your "get a life" statement proves it.
posted on May 19, 2005 10:30:13 AM newBut it's so comforting to know that once again you haven't had a new idea or original thought in your life and your "get a life" statement proves it.
And you have. How many times have you mentioned Armstrong Williams? I will bet it is almost a 100 times since it happend months ago. Now who is original. No, the get a life statement was for you crowfarm and nobody else.
posted on May 19, 2005 10:32:16 AM new
Libra, quit "stalking " me or I'll have a breakdown and whine and cry for hours on end way into the night...........
