Anyone else hope that Obama goes after the pharmaceutical companies

[NJmaverick]

in his health care reform. Seems to me these companies make obscene profits and look to produce drugs that treat instead of cure (so they can make big $$$$$ selling the drugs to people over the rest of their lives). It seems their only other research is reinventing existing treatments so they can extend patents. If there was an area that was ripe for huge cost savings, I have to think it's the pharmaceutical industry.

[tavalon]

1. I think the two biggest evils in Healthcare are the insurance companies

and big pharma.

They've destroyed the Healthcare system. In fact, once people begin digging, they will find out there is no Healthcare system anymore, just a bunch of people desperately trying to keep it together with gum and baling wire, kind of like in the aftermath of Katrina but without the hurricane. I often wonder what will finally blow the lid off of the what has become a nightmare.

[Greyhound]

19. Exactly. There is far more profit in selling assets and denying health care. n/t

[Coexist]

2. but how will I get by not knowing what a man should do if an erection lasts more than 4 hours?

How will I explain to the children?

(big pharm's marketing budgets are obscene is my point, its not ALL R&D)

[DrDan]

3. their lobbying to screw Americans deserves "going after"

this BS attempting to restrain drug purchases outside our borders is nothing by pure, unadulterated greed.

Go get 'em!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. That and insurance AND

practicing real preventive medicine. Mammograms and the like are tests to check on the body--true preventive medicine has these three components:

1. Proper diet for the individual

2. Proper exercise for the individual

3. Supplementation as needed for that individual

Note kindly the stress on individuality. There is no reason why we have to have "cookie cutter" medicine where an MD sees you for six minutes and says, "Oh, you're a white female aged 58. You must be going through menopause, so take this drug." An MD who individualizes care takes 1 1/2 to 2 HOURS one on one with a patient, and does a careful analysis of health history and diet to ascertain what the patient needs to do to get well and to stay well. Studies have shown that preventive medicine doesn't necessarily increase life span--what it does is improve quality of life so that folks stay at home, being able to do what they want instead of winding up in hospital or nursing homes for years.

Can this be done? We're doing it at the Foundation where I work.

[NJmaverick]

5. I agree in healthcare the old saying about an ounce of prevention

was never truer.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. But where is the profit in prevention?

:evilgrin:

[NJmaverick]

7. Exactly!

[Donnachaidh]

10. that leads to another BIG question

Do we HAVE doctors that are capable of individualized care? As a patient, I've been in a pain management program for YEARS. I've had doctors that had me *try* meds to see if they worked for me, and in cases they didn't. However, I was stunned to meet the *newest* doctor to the group I go to - because this guy sat down, looked at my file for a minute (literally) and then reeled off the meds he wanted to put me on -- ALL of which had already been tried and did NOT work for *me*. And when I mentioned that fact he got all uppity and was totally pissed off that a patient would question *his* decisions. No discussions - just attitude. I was stunned.

Of course, I went to the desk and requested an immediate transfer to one of the older doctors who knew me and knew my history. But his attitude that *studies show these drugs to work* just showed me that he's far happier with a captive audience with no voice or opinion. THAT sort of *doctoring* is a big problem in the US. My opinion, of course.

[NJmaverick]

11. very true, so many doctors act like agents for their drug company

sponsors, instead of advocates for their patients

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

28. This is what the HMOs require, sadly

and many docs practice that way. But there are many who really want to take the time to treat patients. I'm on lunch break here at the clinic now, but if you called and wanted to make an appointment as a new patient, I'd block out 2 hours for you. Established patients that haven't seen Doc in over a year get an hour, as do established patients getting certain procedures done. The least time I schedule is a half hour. And by these times, I mean time with Doc, not anyone else.

[safeinOhio]

8. Shorten the patent extension that they lobbied for,

back to what it was and save us BILLIONS. Cheap, effective, with few side effects(for us).

[NJmaverick]

9. Excellent point, I had forgotten all about that

[Avalux]

12. Pharmaceutical companies need to be taken out of the equation.

Their lobbyists wrote Medicare Part B; they really made out by restricting coverage to expensive brand name drugs and not allowing cheap generics.

Medicare Part B needs scrapped and simplified; Medicare needs to be expanded to cover everyone. No lobbyists.

Anyone remember the drug Prilosec? Well, when it was about to lose its patent, Pfizer slightly altered it, changing it from omeprazole to esomeprazole. Same drug, same result - although legally different. They were able to market this 'new' drug as Nexium with another patent.

This crap happens all the time and needs to stop.

[NJmaverick]

13. How do you take them out of the equation?

[Avalux]

14. Disallow their lobbyists from WRITING legislation.

Which is exactly what happened with Medicare.

[NJmaverick]

15. Didn't Obama already say that will no longer be allowed?

[TheWraith]

24. Yes.

At least insamuch as he can affect Congress.

[ipfilter]

16. I would love to see a ban on Pharma's direct marketing to consumers.

I don't see the need to advertise a prescription drug directly to consumers. Two minute commercials containing nothing but disclaimers are ridiculous.

[ThomWV]

17. I would love to see their tax deductions for bribing Doctors removed

It would take a very long time to repeat the stories I have been told from people who work in high-end restaurants locally, within 2 miles of the states largest teaching hospital and the state's third largest private hospital of the money spent by pharm Reps on doctors. Same at all University sporting events, same thing at the golf courses, everywhere you look that they can lavish money, gifts, diners, games, toys - just anything - for consideration when writing future prescriptions.

[ipfilter]

18. I know a someone who works at a doctors office.

She never has to worry about lunch. The pharma reps bring them lunch and all manner of swag every day. It pisses me off to go to the Dr. and have to wait in the lobby while some pharma suit walks right back and guffaws with the doctors for 15 minutes. It happens *every* time I go. They should have to make an appointment just like everyone else.

[GentryDixon]

22. My Doctor will not meet with them without an appointment.

I heard one rep begging to see the Doctor, and she was told more than once the Doctor would not see her without an appointment. This dunce could not understand why she couldn't just "pop back for a minute.

Luckily, the receptionist held her ground. The Pharma Prima Donna left in a not so happy frame of mind.

[NJmaverick]

26. That is definately something to look into

[KharmaTrain]

20. Big Pharma & The Insurance Companies

Much of the run-up in medical costs are between the high costs of drugs and then the massive malpractice premiums doctors pay. Both need to be controlled if there's going to be any true healthcare reform and it's going to take busting a lot of chops.

Big Pharma is easier to go after as we know they pass along all their developing and marketing costs to the "consumer"...many using public universities to do their research. Patent laws need to be revised that prevent popular drugs from going generic for as many as 28 years...or to put price caps and even government subsidies to small manufacturers rather than letting one large company control the development and production. Most of all...repeal the regressive "Prescription Drug Bill" that passed in the dead of night by weasel DeLay twisting arms on behalf of big pharma and when their real big profits began to roll.

The malpractice is a trickier deal because it will require tort reform as well. There has to be a better system to adjudicate malpractice claims...throwing out the frivolous ones and arbitrating rather than sending to lengthy and costly trials. The ABA is loathe to support this, but I saw too many cattle call lawsuits against doctors that not only sent their insurance rates skyrocketing, but gave the hospitals and insurance companies justification to play "god"...taking the diagnosing out of the hands of doctors fearful of yet another lawsuit.

Then one has to throw in reformuating Medicare...it's all very doable, but will require a lot of heavy lifting and patience.

[NJmaverick]

21. Very good assessment of the situation

:thumbsup:

[PVnRT]

23. They invest money in stuff like erectile dysfunction because that makes money

Personally, I would offer to extend drug patents in return for government-negotiated prices and an end to massive advertising.

[NJmaverick]

25. I agree, the industry's priorities are messed up big time

it's all about the dollar, rather than what we as a people or nation need. There needs to be some sort of change to shift the focus

[tabbycat31]

27. agree 100%

My mom's friend's late husband was a doctor. When I was taking a class on healthcare issues in politics, I asked him about how his profession has changed since Pharma started advertising directly to the consumer. He said that people stopped trusting his judgement (he practiced for 40 years) and instead trusted the judgement of a TV commercial. And more often than not, the drug was all wrong for them, but the marketing made them want it. I'm fine with drugs advertising TO THE DOCTORS and others who will dispense them.

Another drug commercial anecdote. I was absolutely speechless when my then 4 year old (female) cousin asked me what erectile dysfunction is after seeing a Viagra commercial during a football game (Sports should be family-friendly programming). I simply replied "something you will never have"

I may offend some people when I say this, but I have to get it off my shoulders. The drug companies have no interest in developing a CURE for many diseases. They want a TREATMENT for these diseases because they make no profits from a cure.

[NJmaverick]

29. Yeah the commercials have to go, they don't serve the public's

best interest