4 ms·

> Here is a wild idea: Perhaps the core of the problem just simply IS for-profit health care itself. Perhaps if someone has cancer, nobody should profit? So yo

> Here is a wild idea: Perhaps the core of the problem just simply IS for-profit health care itself. Perhaps if someone has cancer, nobody should profit? So your idea is, rather than address known issues in the system, replace the system with one that is known not to work?

ako 3y ago
Do you have proof that non-profit health care does not work? I’d say there are plenty country that show proof that nonprofit health care works better for the majority of people then for profit health care.
- nradov 3y ago
  There are no countries with non-profit healthcare systems which develop as many new drugs as the USA on a per capita basis. Non-profit or socialized systems can work reasonably well for care delivery but no one has figured out how to productively develop new drugs under such systems. The profit motive is highly effective.
  - ako 3y ago
    Maybe we don’t need all those new drugs? Are they helping patients, or are they just slightly changed existing drugs that allow the industry to ask for more money?
    - bart_spoon 3y ago
      Good thing they have to go through some of the most extensive efficacy trials of virtually any products in existence. If they aren’t more effective, the generics are still available for cheaper. This seems to be a common paradoxical argument made whenever drug prices get brought up, particularly insulin. I’ve seen people make the argument numerous times about how outrageous it was that Eli Lilly, which was sold the patent for insulin in the early 20th century for a dollar, is charging hundreds of dollars for insulin today. And yet when it is pointed out that they sell insulin for $20 at Walmart, and the insulin that costs hundreds are newer synthetic versions, the response is that people can’t be expected to use the old stuff because the new stuff is much safer, effective, and easy to use. Which is it? If the new medicine is ineffective, then why do you need to buy it over the older, cheap options? If it is truly an improvement, then why is it wrong for the producers to charge more to account for the R&D costs required to create the new medicine?

ako 3y ago

Do you have proof that non-profit health care does not work? I’d say there are plenty country that show proof that nonprofit health care works better for the majority of people then for profit health care.

nradov 3y ago
There are no countries with non-profit healthcare systems which develop as many new drugs as the USA on a per capita basis. Non-profit or socialized systems can work reasonably well for care delivery but no one has figured out how to productively develop new drugs under such systems. The profit motive is highly effective.
- ako 3y ago
  Maybe we don’t need all those new drugs? Are they helping patients, or are they just slightly changed existing drugs that allow the industry to ask for more money?
  - bart_spoon 3y ago
    Good thing they have to go through some of the most extensive efficacy trials of virtually any products in existence. If they aren’t more effective, the generics are still available for cheaper. This seems to be a common paradoxical argument made whenever drug prices get brought up, particularly insulin. I’ve seen people make the argument numerous times about how outrageous it was that Eli Lilly, which was sold the patent for insulin in the early 20th century for a dollar, is charging hundreds of dollars for insulin today. And yet when it is pointed out that they sell insulin for $20 at Walmart, and the insulin that costs hundreds are newer synthetic versions, the response is that people can’t be expected to use the old stuff because the new stuff is much safer, effective, and easy to use. Which is it? If the new medicine is ineffective, then why do you need to buy it over the older, cheap options? If it is truly an improvement, then why is it wrong for the producers to charge more to account for the R&D costs required to create the new medicine?