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Saturday, July 25, 2020

Problems of Pharmaceutical Industry

Chicago Tribune calls him
"A merciless Pitbull of an Investigator"
      Gerald Posner author of 13 books most recent being 
"Pharma"  A revealing study of greed, lies, etc. of the Pharmaceutical Industry in the US.  Very true indeed
 When I was practicing medicine I was sometimes very angry at the Government for not sufficiently controlling this greed and so-called Franchise considered to be an important aspect of Capitalism. I am not against freedom of speech and franchising and such aspects of capitalism but I think there should be a limit or exception or even partial exception in certain areas and the Healthcare industry is one where such freedom must be curtailed in the interest of the suffering human beings (patients).
  For example, when first proven modifier medication for Relapsing-remitting type of MS was introduced, the Pharmaceutical company that produced it  dictated to the government to have an exclusive  franchise to produce the medication and no other company be allowed to produce it until they have "recovered" all the money they spent on its research
 Fine, you can do that BUT they were unable to produce in enough quantities for full supply to all the USA patients. Yes, many patients suffered as they could not get it on time, as they had to wait until they can get it (and in the VA centers it was sort of -- stand in line-- syndrome which I had to share with my patients)
  This to me was a highway robbery and I wanted to be the President of USA right then so I could control this affair. Why should the patients suffer? It is criminal but it happened and I witnessed miserably my patients suffering the horrible outcomes of this ruling OK you may not call it greed or lies but I have many other examples (My 30 years of experience) of other methods including bribing the FDA people (O yes, I am not exaggerating) to delay drug control or minimize side effects (maybe some doctors were also responsible (Not all the physicians are angels).
  So I am glad somebody has written all about it My hat-tip to you Gerald


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