Bailout a'comin'

As with so many other industries, we're now seeing the negative effects of so-called "free enterprise." Perhaps some of the shortages discussed above are natural and inevitable in a changing world, but I'd guess that Big Pharma (already richer than god) is angling for an eventual government bailout. Once the power is in place, it can be manipulated in so many ways. Waving the threat of the Big "C" in our faces, and other inconveniences such as the constant distraction of our hyper-stimulated children . . . well, it's a sure thing that people will agree to subsidize what is already one of the wealthiest corporate categories on the face of the earth.

Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
Drug Shortages Have Hospitals Scrambling For Alternatives

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These drug shortages are the tip of the iceberg

posted by rusty94114 on 30 May 2011 at 11:39 am

The article states: "With current federal regulations the way they are, it is difficult for generic makers to respond rapidly."

Not surprising. Government agencies like the FDA have become the public's worst enemy in regard to medical progress and accessibility. Far more injuries and deaths are caused by the obstructionist policies of these agencies than are prevented by their removal of dangerous products from the market.

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Are you surprised

posted by alex on 30 May 2011 at 12:31 pm

What do you think of Obama health plan? If you think this is bad news just stay turned and watch you haven't seen anything yet.

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Drug companies should not provide welfare

posted by George Douglas on 30 May 2011 at 12:34 pm

The drug companies are businesses. They have no obligation to make products that are unprofitable. When the government forces drug prices to be lower than the amount investors want to support, the products will disappear. When a drug company has spent millions to develop a needed drug and before they can make up for the investment and make a profit for a few years, the drug becomes generic due to government regulations, why should they try? What a lot of people want from drug companies is the equivalent to welfare.

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Duh? Profit and health?

posted by Mikee on 30 May 2011 at 12:37 pm

This is what happens when you put for-profit companies in charge of our health care system.

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Happy you mentioned my Rx by name... Sad it's come to this

posted by Anon on 30 May 2011 at 2:26 pm

I use a ADD medication for narcolepsy (Adderall). It's regulated, so my doctor can't give me a 90 day dose (or a larger dose to split in two), and about every other month I have a minor panic attack trying to track it down. If I can't find it, I can fall back on an old supply of Provigil, lots of caffeine, or temporarily borrow from an out-of-town friend's prescription (if they managed to find it themselves) for a few days... but doing that throws me out of whack for up to a week after I finally get back on my proper medication at the proper dose.

It's pathetic.

The FDA, however, has been *lax* in doing their job, not "obstructionist". More so now than ever, although you can do the research on your own about that.

As far as the meds, well, profits over people. As bad as my situation is when I can't get a hold of my meds (not really safe to drive, can't really function properly, etc), at least I'm not waiting for chemotherapy. My God.

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Stop treating medicine as if it were tea

posted by John Grimes on 30 May 2011 at 4:11 pm

I am happy to see that most opinions above indicate that Americans are starting to "get it" when it comes to the big lie of Big Pharma and its allies in Congress. Medicine is not and never has been a business, any more than education, police work, or fire prevention are businesses. None of these necessary public services respond well to the American capitalist model despite what the ideologues who enjoy Ayn Rand's fiction may say. Frankly, I don't care if the social Neanderthals want to call it "socialized medicine" or Norwegian spaghetti, I say "bring it on", the sooner the better. Michael Moore was right about America's lunatic love affair with guns, and he is just as right about the dangers of 'for profit' medicine.

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Seriously? You call this a Free Market?

posted by Jenkie on 30 May 2011 at 7:26 pm

The is one of the most heavily regulated and lobbied sectors of any market, at any time in history. Big Pharma has a history of buying legislation - which they were kind enough to compose themselves - that locks-in profits and deters competition.

In a natural free market, manufacturers and suppliers would scramble to "capitalize" on shortages. Although we've been trained to think this is a bad word, it actually confers an efficiency via competition, that can only be conferred by the mechanisms of strong demand and profit motive. The free market always addresses these issues more efficiently than any system of planned supply. Bureaucrats wist job security, pensions and revolving-door private sector options can never compete with an honest free market.

Deregulate, let manufacturers compete, and maintain safety through quality of brand, and allow 3rd parties to develop an oversight and advisory industry. We will see health care prices plummet across the board, and quality increase with competition

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Tina

posted by Tina on 31 May 2011 at 9:32 am

It is interesting reading all the posts here. Most seem to cluster at the extremes: government is bad, deregulate and let us be free! Or: big pharma is evil and the source of all health care woes!
Thankfully, some are reasoned opinions. I also believe that medical products are not equivalent to tea (for market freedom) and more like nuclear energy and education; we do need government to set rules and standards for these businesses. It also helps us coordinate these industries around the world. In fact, the answer to these shortages is an industry, government and practitioner consortium (shocking concept that is already in existence and working well).
Let these consortia determine the best path forward. If they determine a need for incentives or target relaxed regulatory pathways are appropriate, so be it. Neither of those would spell the end to civilization or democracy. Inflammatory rhetoric on both sides is what has to change. In my opinion, THAT is what is preventing progress and positive change.

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Drug Shortage is not a Big Pharma Issue

posted by Mike Wokasch on 31 May 2011 at 12:24 pm

Many of the drugs on the FDA shortage list are generic drugs (not Big Pharma drugs), including sterile injectable drugs that even in the best of circumstances are expensive to manufacture. The issue here is that when the market drives prices down to a point where there is little or no profit incentive (even generic drug companies need to make a profit) the entire chain of supply breaks down, from ingredients in the medication to equipment maintenance and quality. Manufacturers will prioritize the manufacture of higher profit products over lower profit products. That just makes business sense.

If you want a consistent supply of generic drugs, you'll have to pay prices that make it worthwhile for a manufacturer to take steps to ensure a consistent supply.

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