Prescription Drugs: The Ultimate Scandal

Guess how many perscription drug lobbyists there are per US Congressman?

Too many... (couldn't find an exact number but have heard its as high as 1.5)

Anyways check out this article here about the true cost of perscription drugs:

www.rense.com...

"In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies really make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in some of the most popular drugs sold in America.

The chart below speaks for itself.

Celebrex 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60
Percent markup: 21,712% "

This is, in my opinion, insane! If these number are correct then this is possibly the biggest problem of all time

Then there is the Bush medicare plan... oh man don't get me started on that!
I hope some other people are outraged!

Wow, that is insane

Iam so glad that I live in Canada. I went to the drug store a couple weeks ago to fill a prescription for 100 T3's(I broke my finger in baseball)... I thought that it would be a little pricey, but to my delight the guy gave me a bill for the grand total of.............. $1.16 You, or should I say I, have to love Canada's fair Pharmacare System.

I love Canada more and more every day.

[edit on 7/7/04 by HumptyDumpty]

What I think is so funny is when legislators here get so mad about people from the US going to Canada to get drugs.

Why do you think the legislators are mad?

BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING BRIBED!!!

Breaucracy sucks! Plain and simple!

What's even worse is how pharmacies are given incentives by the pharm companies to run out of the generic versions of the drugs and sell only the higher priced name brand versions. Seen it with my own eyes many times.

Edit: While the pharmacies may be required to order and sell the generics, there is nothing stipulating how much they have to order, and therefor must substitute the generics with name brands. When you're at the pharmacy filling a prescription you need to take, you're kinda stuck with what they have on hand.

[edit on 7-7-2004 by StickyG]

[edit on 7-7-2004 by StickyG]

Originally posted by lockheed
Celebrex 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60
Percent markup: 21,712% "

The pharmaceutical companies argument would be that they spent 100 million dollars developing the medication and need to recoup their investment so the can continue to research and develop new drugs in the future. What do I think? I think they are all crooks and the United States government allows these companies to gouge the American consumers.

Now I could understand maybe a 1000% markup on most drugs because so much work goes into reasearching them and drug companies really should be able to pay their people well. These drugs are important, no doubt about that. However I think anyone, no matter what their view on the matter, 21,000% is a little excessive!

I switched over to herbals a long time ago...can't stand the healthcare industry in America. Congress is investigating the hospitals for overcharging the uninusured 2 or more times that which they charge the insurance companies and for the medicaid/medicare patients. And, Bush desires to have every american screened for mental illness...a nice present for his buddies in the drug companies. My question is this...since I feel that the drugs, insurance and healthcare are overpriced strongly enough to just about boycott them, well, how can the government force me to pay for someone elses drugs and healthcare?

And who they give to...REPUBLICANS.

What They Gave: the Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry Gave GOP More Than $35 Million Since 1999. Over the past five years, the pharmaceutical industry has given national Republicans $35,560,693; 78 percent of that industry's total political contributions. [Center for Responsive Politics]

Pharmaceutical Industry Gave $950,000 in Donations to the Bush 2001 Inaugural Committee. Pharmaceutical companies gave the Bush-Cheney Inaugural Committee $950,000 in donations. [Center for Responsive Politics]

24 Bush Pioneers and Rangers Linked To Pharmaceutical Industry. At least 24 Bush Pioneers and Rangers are connected to the pharmaceutical industry collecting at least $3.4 million in contributions for Bush. A Pioneer raises at least $100,000 and Ranger $200,000 for the campaign. Each donor's check is coded by industry, which one 2000 Pioneer noted "does ensure that our industry is credited, and that your progress is listed among the other business/industry sectors." The drug industry ranks among the top sectors for providing Bush Pioneers and Rangers. See attached appendix for a detailed list. [whitehouseforsale.org; tpj.org; Newsweek, 1/24/00]

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Association (PhRMA) Spent $30 Million in 2002 Elections Promoting GOP Drug Plan. PhRMA spent around $30 million in the 2002 elections boosting the Republican approach to a prescription drug benefit for Medicare. [L.A. Times, 11/8/02]

What They Gave: the HMOs/Health Services Industry
HMO/Health Services Industry Gave GOP Nearly $13 Million Since 1999. Over the past five years, the HMO/health services industries have given national Republicans $12,613,714; 78 percent of those industries' total political contributions. [Center for Responsive Politics]

11 Bush Pioneers and Rangers Linked to HMOs and PPOs. At least 11 Bush Pioneers connected to health maintenance and preferred provider organizations have collected at least $1.3 million in contributions for Bush. See attached appendix for a detailed list. [whitehouseforsale.org; tpj.org]

What They Gave: the Insurance Industry
Insurance Industry Gave GOP Nearly $64 Million Since 1999. Over the past five years, the insurance industry has given national Republicans $63,987,173; 67 percent of that industry's total political contributions. [Center for Responsive Politics]

Insurance Industry Gave $1,145,000 in Donations to the Bush 2001 Inaugural Committee. Insurance companies gave the Bush-Cheney Inaugural Committee $1,145,000 in donations. [Center for Responsive Politics]

10 Bush Pioneers and Rangers Linked to the Health Insurance Industry. At least 10 Bush Pioneers and Rangers connected to insurance industry have raised at least $1.2 million in contributions. See attached appendix a detailed list. [whitehouseforsale.org; tpj.org]

www.democrats.org...

And where do the Pharmcos and HMO's and Insurance companies get their money to give Bush? FROM YOU AND ME!

Meaning all healthcare has a big fat GOP tax. We all support the system to make sure nothing ever changes. Do we have a choice? Sure!

Die or pay to support the GOP.

And to think some people are worried Edwards gets support from fellow lawyers and UNC graduates... :shk:

[edit on 8-7-2004 by RANT]