Since the 1930s, the National Institutes of Health has invested nearly $900 billion in the basic and applied research that formed the pharma and biotech sectors. 75% of so-called new molecular entities with priority ratings (the most innovative drugs) trace their existence to NIH funding, while companies spend more on “me too” drugs.
Category Archive: Bad practices
Fewer than half of Americans rate the quality of U.S. health care as excellent or good. Only 12% say it is handled extremely or very well. Americans have similar views about health care for older adults. The public gives even lower marks for how prescription drug costs, the quality of care at nursing homes, and mental health care are handled, with just 6% or less saying those health services are done very well in the country. Can it ever be improved?
Big Insurance revenues and profits have increased by 300% and 287%, respectively, since 2012 due to explosive growth in the companies’ pharmacy benefit management (PBM) businesses and the Medicare replacement plans they call Medicare Advantage. The for-profits now control over 80% of the national PBM market and over 70% of the Medicare Advantage market.
U.S. senators called for Medicare to offer broad coverage of Alzheimer’s treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration, warning that current restrictions cost patients precious time as their disease progresses. They are asking the FDA to approve a drug based on hope, not science.
A disturbing new study conducted by Health Action Council shows millennials exceed older generations in chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity. We need to focus on emphasizing lifestyle as medicine and stop making excuses for lack of common sense when it comes to obesity.
When JAMA points out the greed in health care, you know we have a problem. “The grip of financial self-interest in US health care is becoming a stranglehold, with dangerous and pervasive consequences. No sector of US health care is immune from the immoderate pursuit of profit.”
Anti-vaxxers continue to invent new harms caused by vaccines and spread these claims on social media. Some of these claims catch on even with no evidence because the Internet is largely unregulated.
Sales continue to soar for all the weight loss drugs in 2023. Earlier this month, Novo Nordisk told the CBS news program 60 Minutes that the company can finally supply all dose levels of Wegovy. Social media and celebrities drive demand for a drug whose side effects are not yet completely known and cost over $1000 a month.