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Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 10:12 AM Dec 2016

Big Pharma, Inc. royally reaming American people - NY Times.

The New York Times published a blockbuster story on December 23, about how pharmaceutical corporations are royally screwing the American people.

Right after the Times published its story and continuing merrily through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Intertubes were pumped up with diverting rants and attacks on clean, healthy, non-toxic alternative or complementary therapeutics that millions of people around the world find effective, but that Big Pharma considers to be competition.

Wow, what a coincidence! We do live on an amazing planet.

...Price Spikes on Prescription Drugs...

"...The report focused on Retrophin, Rodelis Therapeutics, Turing Pharmaceuticals and an old favorite, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International.

"But these four companies are not alone in pursuing the pernicious price-hike business model, the committee noted. Other companies take the same approach, hurting taxpayers, patients and the health care system..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/23/business/drug-price-medicare-mallinckrodt-acthar.html

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Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
1. The Monopoly Business Model that Harms Patients, Taxpayers, and the U.S. Health Care System
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 10:44 AM
Dec 2016
Bipartisan US Senate Report released Dec. 21, 2016

"...the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, released a report on drug pricing today titled, “Sudden Price Spikes in Off-Patent Prescription Drugs: The Monopoly Business Model that Harms Patients, Taxpayers, and the U.S. Health Care System.”

"The comprehensive report details the findings stemming from the Committee’s bipartisan investigation into abrupt and dramatic price increases for prescription drugs...

"Through close examination of the monopoly business model used by four pharmaceutical companies to exploit market failures,..."

The Report: http://www.aging.senate.gov/press-releases/collins-mccaskill-release-committee-report-of-bipartisan-drug-pricing-investigation

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
2. Stupefying graph shows how Big Pharma, Inc. screws American citizens
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 11:33 AM
Dec 2016

No wonder there are so many efforts to divert attention from the real news.



Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
4. Drug industry is pouring money into GOP coffers
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 05:03 PM
Dec 2016

Money goes to distraction and disinformation to crush clean healthy, non-toxic alternatives regarded as competition, as well as to further greaze the already greazy GOP political wheels.


NOVEMBER 2, 2016
WASHINGTON — With a fight over drug prices expected next year, drug companies have been funneling significant political contributions toward Republican candidates, fearful of what a full Democratic takeover of Washington might mean for the industry, according to a STAT analysis.

https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/02/fearing-democratic-tidal-wave-drug-industry-pouring-money-gop-coffers/

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
5. Big Pharma (R) is Coming for your Facebook and Twitter feeds
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 08:58 AM
Dec 2016

The corps & allied trolls and ad companies are out to bamboozle people, to distract them, to crush clean, non-toxic therapies that might dent their monpolistic hegemony, and to maintain their obscene profits at the expense of American citizens.

December 21, 2016 - Buzzfeed
"Ads for clothes, concerts, and flights to exotic destinations litter Facebook and Twitter. Soon, though, you may see a lot more ads for something more serious — prescription pills...

...From now until early January, the drug-regulating agency is collecting public feedback on how tweets promoting therapies should disclose their side effects, one step in the agency’s long-running attempt to regulate advertising on social media.

"The move follows Facebook beginning discussions with the FDA about ramping up efforts to populate the News Feed with drug ads...

https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemlee/pharma-social-media?utm_term=.ywmQRgj1E#.ogZqyGOwQ

Vinca

(50,168 posts)
6. It's getting to the point it might be cheaper to fly to London to get your prescriptions
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 08:59 AM
Dec 2016

than buy them here.

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
7. I've seen many friends and family members savaged by pharma costs
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 03:01 PM
Dec 2016

Pharmaceuticals do a lot of good, for sure, and also a lot of harm. It's not just the screw job pricing, but also the pernicious side effects. By the same token, non-toxic alternative and complementary therapies can do a lot of good, but they also are subject to clueless use and occasional misrepresentation.

Vinca

(50,168 posts)
8. On a radio show a couple of weeks ago I heard about a drug that is sold over-the-counter
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 03:12 PM
Dec 2016

in the U.K. for $4, but is only available by prescription here for $800. We're like sitting ducks in this country. I'm very grateful I don't have to take anything on a regular basis.

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