Pharmaceutical Drug Prices Up 100% or Higher

Pharmaceutical Drug Prices Up 100% or Higher

www.usatoday.com

Drug companies are quietly pushing through price hikes of 100% — or even more than 1,000% — for a very small but growing number of prescription drugs, helping to drive up costs for insurers, patients and government programs.

The number of brand-name drugs with increases of 100% or more could double this year from four years ago, researchers from the University of Minnesota say. Many of the drugs are older products that treat fairly rare, but often serious or even life-threatening, conditions.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Here we go again! More price gouging from the Mega-corp Pharmaceutical Industry!

What the hell is going on here anymore? Why has GREED become the dominant, ruling factor of our society, and why is it being allowed to dictate people's ability to LIVE?

I am so disgusted with this recurring theme I keep seeing popping up all over, again and again. Ugh

Reasons for the larger increases are varied, researchers say.

"There's no simple explanation," says Stephen Schondelmeyer, director of the PRIME Institute at the University of Minnesota, which studies drug industry economics. "Some companies seem to figure no one is watching so they can get away with it."

The price increases are drawing legal and political scrutiny:

www.usatoday.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


DD, just look at every other post... I think what we have to realize that what is greed to us- is good business in the eyes of others.

I agree with you though. It is getting ridiculous, I often wonder if a red and blue america wouldn't make more sense. Right and Left canada and same for Mexico


In America I believe this gouging goes on because there are
150,000,000 + people who believe in the principle behind the prices. Despite the fact that their principles are allowing the raping of their own pockets at every turn.

In discussion many tend to equate common sense and common good with socialism.

As far as the US, I would bet a pretty penny that if my fine state of CA was left to be Left we would benefit from unsurpassed prosperity, free healthcare, way cheap drugs
and very high average income.

On another note the free market reds don't get that they are promoting ideas that made Mexico the plutocracy it is today.Regardless, the few mega rich there still have the morality to insure that everyone is cared for phsycally.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

screw your neighbor and it isn't cheating if you aren't found out! This issue is a matter of ideas, policies and values IMO.




[edit on 8-8-2008 by mental modulator]

reply to post by DimensionalDetective

The number of brand-name drugs with increases of 100% or more could double this year from four years ago, researchers from the University of Minnesota say. Many of the drugs are older products that treat fairly rare, but often serious or even life-threatening, conditions.

The key words here are "brand-name drugs" and "older products." This opens the door quite wide for these "older products" who's formulary patents have expired, to be picked up by generic drug manufacturers and start being made available for patients who's Rx insurers will ONLY cover generic alternatives and refuse any brand name drugs, even when no generic alternative is being produced. In reality, while the manufacturers do stand to make a profit, they'll also be making the treatment available to more people... people who currently can't get these drugs because they cannot afford to pay for them out of pocket and their insurance refuses to foot the bill.

It may seem counter intuitive on the surface, but dig a little deeper sometimes and find that it's actually going to result in more people getting the treatments at a lower cost aside from those who feel like they MUST HAVE the name brand pills, who can then feel free to buy them out of pocket if they can afford it.

This is more than just greed, this is the sociopathic elites pricing people out of medicine to help with the intended culling of mankind. Maybe.

Good news is if people read up on natural remedies, a big portion of the overpriced drugs won't be needed, since more effective compounds can be found in nature. Use the information age to counter the price hikes I guess.

I hardly take any medicine these days, just ocasional anti inflammatories and some suplements.

Thats &*%$ing vile

Like the price of meds aren't already mind boggling down there, they want a 100%-1000% increase? This is a clip from Sicko. Yea yea its Micheal Moore, but just watch the damn thing.
www.youtube.com...

$120 in America, 5 cents in Cuba. Now she may be paying anywhere from $240-$1120 if her meds are put on this list, while it will still cost 5 cents in Cuba.

Originally posted by ben420
Thats &*%$ing vile

Like the price of meds aren't already mind boggling down there, they want a 100%-1000% increase? This is a clip from Sicko. Yea yea its Micheal Moore, but just watch the damn thing.
www.youtube.com...

$120 in America, 5 cents in Cuba. Now she may be paying anywhere from $240-$1120 if her meds are put on this list, while it will still cost 5 cents in Cuba.

Amen...
and
Word

In lieu of posting a ferocious rant I will just sit here and grind my teeth.

Thanks DD.

I'm from Australia, now living in the US.

I have never understood why there is a huge international difference in the prices of medications.

Back home, most packages of name brand prescriptions are between $10 - $50.Thats without insurance. If they are subsidised by the Govt, they are $3.20 (well thats the figure when I was last home).

They are dispensed as sealed, labelled packages, supplied from the company.
They look like boxes you buy in the pharmacy of OTC meds.
Not some bottle with a label on it that someone counted out of a giant bottle at the pharmacy , hopefully the right ones.

I've always been suspicious, are people in the US paying more for health care and treatment to cross subsidise the rest of the world?

And why is it that the Govt says it is illegal to import medications, even with a legitimate Dr's script, when they are available cheaper in Canada?
The govt excuse is that 'you don't know what medication you are actually getting'.
Oh please, we're not talking doggie bags from Thailand here.

The boxes are sealed, blister packed and labelled medication with the company and medication name on it.
I'd rather take that any day over an orange bottle someone just filled up and stuck a label on.

When I clicked on the link it came up "article not found."

I'm guessing, though, that they're talking about the so-called "orphan drugs"--drugs that are not in wide demand but are absolutely essential to the life of those who need them. I guess the drug companies figure they can charge them anything they want to.

You have to remember that pharmaceutical companies are only concerned with their profits. If they happen to benefit mankind, well, okay but it's the shareholders who really count.

Well, any prescription that isn't terribly new can be purchased at Kroger or Wal-mart for 4-5 bucks per bottle. Not bad if you ask me...I do feel sorry for those with chronic diseases though...sadly the drug companies are pouring money into R&D and their revenues can't keep up. It's not really greed so much as no major breakthroughs, Biotech companies taking over the scene and FDA rejections/recalls.