QUICK READ: The nation’s largest for-profit hospital chains saw higher profits, and some more than tripled their net income compared to last year. Some are also increasing their profit margins by forcing out healthcare staff who have seniority and earn more. As bigger corporations acquire smaller hospitals, this trend is accelerating.
QUICK READ: Pfizer is already positioning their Covid vaccine as a yearly maintenance shot. In other words, they want to milk this cash cow for every penny they can get out of the healthcare system. Make no mistake; the drug companies will make a lot of money from these vaccines while they continue to hide profits offshore.
SUMMARY: Democratic lawmakers are weighing whether to include drug pricing measures that could extract tens of billions of dollars from the industry. “Something is coming. We’re just not sure when,” said one drug industry lobbying source. The industry should have seen this coming a long time ago as the excuse that they need high prices to fund R&D isn’t true anymore.
SUMMARY: The media loves to blame pharma companies for high healthcare costs, but unless we start to invest in healthy lifestyles, we’re headed for a healthcare crisis the likes of which we have never experienced.
SUMMARY: COVID-19 has killed many people worldwide, but how many really died from COVID, and how many died because they had an underlying chronic health problem as a major factor? We may never know, but we can not afford to do anything while our population becomes more obese and unhealthy.
SUMMARY: In a recent study by The Harris Poll on behalf of TIME, the overwhelming majority of Americans (78%) admitted to delaying routine medical services and health care appointments due to the coronavirus pandemic. The health care industry should invest more in patient outreach, communication and education.
SUMMARY: The biggest argument against pharma is the cost of prescription drugs. Pharma could do something about this by simply uniting to make it easier for patients who can’t afford their medications to get them free or at little cost.
SUMMARY: “How big pharma takeovers destroy innovation” a report from Congresswoman Porter does make some points. Still, she is missing a lot of facts at a time when hospital and health insurance costs are soaring.
