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http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/24/technol ... ettlement/



This shows you how fucked up healthcare in this country is. It's more expensive than anywhere else...no wonder canadian pharmacies could make a huge profit by selling cheaper generics etc. Funny how the US assumes they are all "dangerous" because it's not regulated by the FDA. It's also funny that Google would play ball with these pharmacies in the first place...knowing the risks.

You Canadian bros are really fucking shit up with your affordable healthcare/pharmaceuticals

Fixed that for you

Druid: Meowth
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Haha thanks there Meowth.

So wait, you're saying that healthcare is one of the few things that shouldn't be for-profit? You mean I shouldn't try to make money off of someone's health? What nonsense! This is capitalism! This is AMUURRRRICA!

Canada has price controls on pharmaceuticals.

I don't agree that companies "shouldn't" make money off people's health, but there definitely needs to be a ceiling somewhere.

I mean, if pharmaceutical firms don't research and manufacture for profit, why would they do anything at all?

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

They research what else they can add to an existing drug patent so when it expires they can patent and market it all over again as the next best thing ever while only adding more side effects.

Druid: Meowth
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Glorious Death Metal Music

True enough, and this is also why we don't have cures for AIDS or influenza or cancer or any of a million infections or other chronic conditions.

But what can be done? What would be the best way to incentivize constructive research?

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

Aestu has a point. I interned at a pharmaceutical company in college -- and I like the way it is structured right now: Exclusive patents for a number of years, then generics are allowed to come in and drive the price down. Still, I think pharmaceuticals should be more affordable, really all healthcare should be. The US' broken system is why its healthcare costs are by far the highest in the world.

Shoot CEOs. It's not like the researchers are getting the big cut of the profit anyway, so they have incentive to work on whatever pays their bills.

If destruction exists, we must destroy everything.
Shuruppak Yuratuhl
Slaad Shrpk Breizh

I think the best way to go would be the status quo, plus price controls, universal coverage, and more use of eminent domain (with fair compensation).

I think there should also be massive bounties for certain research achievements, such as compiling the proteinome.

I would also introduce a program where researchers, especially foreigners, who meet certain criteria, get federal dachas. Bioscience majors should get retroactive tuition loan refunds upon five years' service in the Office of the Surgeon General, contracted out as needed.

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

if FDA had their way, you wouldn't be able to take fucking vitamins without money from you going into their budget.

I won't even get into how quality of care goes down for the average patient under socialized medicine.

You should rephrase. It's possible (though I doubt it) that quality of care would decrease for the wealthiest patients. For the average patient, quality of care would greatly increase if for no other reason than that everyone who was previously receiving no care (and was hence receiving, effectively, zero quality care) now receives care.

If destruction exists, we must destroy everything.
Shuruppak Yuratuhl
Slaad Shrpk Breizh

The way Obama's plan goes about it is not the right way to do it.

You could go about with a voucher system, and basically have the best of everything.

Healthcare experiences market discipline.
Tax payers don't get soaked by unlimited benefits.
Waste is going to drop. It's harder to scam somebody who's going to lose money due to your shenanigans.
Medicine prices are going to come down, because clinics aren't going to have to make up lost revenue after being shafted by unsubstantiated benefit promises.
You avoid rationing.
You avoid the ton of bureaucratic that comes with Obama's plan. The government is only part of the voucher application process, and drops all responsibility after issuing a voucher.
And you essentially accomplish what Obama's plan sets out to do - virtually everybody has health insurance. Unless you want everybody to have gold plated insurance, which is far more idealistic than however idealistic you may think my views are.

The biggest drawback is insurance companies need to be cock blocked, because I guarantee somewhere somehow they'll be jockeying for vouchers becoming easier and easier to get, and paying out more and more. Probably with a political party on strings, claiming they "care".

Of course, you could leave it to the free market, and you don't have to worry about insurance companies jockeying for anything.

break the regional monopolies. if they have to compete, heath care costs will go down.

not saying that would be enough, but it should certainly be added into any health care proposal.

How?

Also see: AT&T, Format Wars

Aestu of Bleeding Hollow...

Nihilism is a copout.

I don't know how, but if it can happen competition will sort itself out. it always does.