Don Surber, today [1]:
ITEM 1: The New York Times reported, “At a time when germs are growing more resistant to common antibiotics, many companies that are developing new versions of the drugs are hemorrhaging money and going out of business, gravely undermining efforts to contain the spread of deadly, drug-resistant bacteria.”
Suing Big Pharma has consequences.
The story said, “The grim financial outlook for the few companies still committed to antibiotic research is driving away investors and threatening to strangle the development of new lifesaving drugs at a time when they are urgently needed.”
But it goes beyond suing Big Pharma, according to the Times.
The story said, “The problem is straightforward: The companies that have invested billions to develop the drugs have not found a way to make money selling them. Most antibiotics are prescribed for just days or weeks — unlike medicines for chronic conditions like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis that have been blockbusters — and many hospitals have been unwilling to pay high prices for the new therapies. Political gridlock in Congress has thwarted legislative efforts to address the problem.”
Research in capitalism follows the market. Research in government follows the politics. If we stopped chasing windmills battling an imaginary problem, we could have the resources to battle this one.
I have my doubts on that point. Congress might have the time if they stopped chasing impeachment, (which isn’t going to go anywhere) but they wouldn’t have the will.
And therein lies the key, I think. Do we really want government Healthcare, where your health and well-being is driven by the politics of the moment and whoever happens to be in political power? That’s really what the Democrats are proposing, you know. That’s what single payer is.
I will say this again: the only way to lower prescription drug costs is to get government out of the picture entirely.