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Agreed. I noted elsewhere here about Civica Rx, a nonprofit seeking to help things. (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=civica+rx&ia=web https://duckduckgo.com/?q=civi

by lcall 7y ago

Agreed. I noted elsewhere here about Civica Rx, a nonprofit seeking to help things. (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=civica+rx&ia=web https://duckduckgo.com/?q=civica+rx&ia=web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civica_Rx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civica_Rx ).

HarryHirsch 7y ago
They are a buyers' consortium, not a manufacturer of anything. Since they do not own production capacity for generics they can merely shift the problem elsewhere through concentrated buying power, but they cannot alleviate it.
- lcall 7y ago
  No, it looks from the wikipedia page like they have contracted with producers so they are causing new production. Also planning to add their own capacity. Edit: adding the wkp quote: "By the end of 2019 Civica had 18 medications (28 SKUs) in production, and plans to bring over 100 medications to market in five years through various manufacturing approaches such as partnerships, developing ANDAs, and building its own manufacturing capability." Plus the fact that it is about a concept. In vague terms, I'm thinking it is better to act (doing, producing, finding alternatives, maybe and using monopoly laws?), than to try to restrict what someone else does.
  - HarryHirsch 7y ago
    Did they bring new production capacity on-line or do they just rent space from a contract manufacturer? They don't say, but it seem it's the latter. One problem with the US healthcare system is the lack of spare capacity. It increases profits when everything is well, but if there's a pandemic or mass casualty incident there's shortages. Economists know how to handle inelastic supply and sudden demand shocks, but the message hasn't gotten through to public health. Perhaps that's intentional.
    - lcall 7y ago
      Either way, the seemingly (and prospective) increased actual production is what impresses me, as an illustration of a private-sector solution.

by lcall 7y ago

HarryHirsch 7y ago

They are a buyers' consortium, not a manufacturer of anything. Since they do not own production capacity for generics they can merely shift the problem elsewhere through concentrated buying power, but they cannot alleviate it.

lcall 7y ago
No, it looks from the wikipedia page like they have contracted with producers so they are causing new production. Also planning to add their own capacity. Edit: adding the wkp quote: "By the end of 2019 Civica had 18 medications (28 SKUs) in production, and plans to bring over 100 medications to market in five years through various manufacturing approaches such as partnerships, developing ANDAs, and building its own manufacturing capability." Plus the fact that it is about a concept. In vague terms, I'm thinking it is better to act (doing, producing, finding alternatives, maybe and using monopoly laws?), than to try to restrict what someone else does.
- HarryHirsch 7y ago
  Did they bring new production capacity on-line or do they just rent space from a contract manufacturer? They don't say, but it seem it's the latter. One problem with the US healthcare system is the lack of spare capacity. It increases profits when everything is well, but if there's a pandemic or mass casualty incident there's shortages. Economists know how to handle inelastic supply and sudden demand shocks, but the message hasn't gotten through to public health. Perhaps that's intentional.
  - lcall 7y ago
    Either way, the seemingly (and prospective) increased actual production is what impresses me, as an illustration of a private-sector solution.