Drug prices

[rainbow]

Capitalism allows such restrictions, yes. Not all capitalism is free market capitalism.

Yippeee!

Thank you for admitting that you've been wrong. Free market Capitalism is a contradiction in terms.

Yay!, I win.

Your assertion was that "capitalism" distorts the market in the example where a medical device company manufactures a product and sells it at different prices in different markets. In that situation, please explain how "capitalism" distorted the market?

Also, are you equating capitalism with "free trade?" It's not the same thing. Capitalism is an economic system wherein property, business and industry are largely held in the hands of private individuals and groups.

No, you did. I was the one that pointed out that they were incompatible. I'm pleased that you've now come around to the same conclusion.

I did explain to you that capitalism distorts the market by restricting free trade across borders. How is this difficult to understand?

So, you were saying?

Yes.

[Scot Dutchy]

A capitalist who has not got a clue about capitalism.

[Tero]

It's a new thing. Trump Capitalism. You use Russia to pay for things.

[mistermack]

You can't have pure capitalism and you can't have pure socialism.
Where's the mystery in that?
We've been compromising since we first evolved.

[pErvinalia]

Pretty much this ^

[Tero]

Elsewhere
freedom4all says:

Tero (above) says: That would require no patents.

f4a says: Correct. Patents are just grants by the king to stop competition. Instead of 100s of millions of dollars needed to bring a drug to market because of regulations, a few 100 thousands would be all that is needed to show the side effects.

Bayer has long ago lost its patent on aspirin yet it is still a profitable drug for them.
Book: Against Intellectual Property

Tero says:

"a few 100 thousands would be all that is needed to show the side effects"
Dream on. For every drug on the market, at least 100 others were tested and failed. It takes several hundred people doing research to get a drug on the market. Regulation is not the hurdle, as badly tested drugs put loose on the market would soon be a liability.
(You simply want the best drug of your 100, with the most effective trearment and potency for target disease. And least side effects.)
You don't just rush out with your first lead drug or even the "somewhat effective." You want the best.

[Tero]

Single payer has no bearing on drug prices.
https://theintercept.com/2017/09/13/pha ... ayer-plan/

And drug prices are in general (not humira etc) not sky high compared to surgery.

But to lower prices of drugs you have to change patent law so that the maker does not get unlimited extensions.

Patents expire. Example: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. will be allowed to launch its generic version of viagra in the United States on Dec. 11, 2017.

[Scot Dutchy]

I never pay for prescribed drugs. Only over the counter drugs.

[Svartalf]

same here.

[Scot Dutchy]

We both have UHC strangely enough.

[Sean Hayden]

Of course you pay for the drugs, stop being silly. Maybe you pay less though?

[Rum]

Of course you pay for the drugs, stop being silly. Maybe you pay less though?

Quite a lot less in wonderful National health Britian. If you are mildly unwell and only need an occasional prescription then it can feel expensive (well for a 'free' service), but if you need lots of a drug you pay the same price. The sicker you are the better value!

[Sean Hayden]

Oh Britain, you rainbow pissing, gumdrop shitting bastids. I long to run beneath your blueberry skies.

[Tyrannical]

High grade medical, variety of strains 120 1/2; oh wait what kind?

[Rum]

Oh Britain, you rainbow pissing, gumdrop shitting bastids. I long to run beneath your blueberry skies.

I have to say that our system seems to be under a lot of pressure these days and creaking a bit. Of course the press whip it up so it is quite hard to work out the reality, but you have to wait longer to see a doctor, waiting lists for operations are lengthening and we are threatened with doom when we can't import nurses and doctors from Europe after Brexit.

Having said all that urgent cases are dealt with well. A friend of mine was diagnosed with a cancerous kidney back in April and the stops came out immeditely. My 94 year old aunt sees a doctor the day she needs one. So it is mixed.

Still cheap and cheerful is better than expensive and miserable.