New HIV Drug

[Lewis]

I have Health Partners it is a HMO, but Jason you can go to the VA, but your wife can't.

 

[Milk-Drops]

Everything you said is true. Now one of the big problems is the cost of medication in this country. Do you know that some 3rd world countries have a better health care system than the USA. People here were trying to buy cheaper medicine from Canada, and and that alarmed the medication industry in this country, so the big companies pulled the right political strings, to slow it way down. I have not even heard about it lately. But this greedy country puts profit in front of saving lives.

Luckily, since there is a huge demand for this type of drug by both people afraid of AIDS and in countries where its such an epidemic, its only a matter of time before there are generics on the market. We just have to wait for the patten to loose its effectiveness. I definitely don't like how the US is so rich and Powerful, yet even when we do make medicine its still part of the system.

 

[Mike]

I am talking about the over charging only

I know pharmaceutical companies sell at high prices, but they put millions of dollars on the line for the one drug that makes it to market. Point the finger at those companies or the managed care companies if you want, but don't forget the retail pharmacies. They wouldn't be popping up on every corner if they didn't make a huge profit by making ridiculous mark-ups. I'm all for the free market, but we need to know who's doing what.

http://ncpanet.wordpress.com/2012/0...nefit-managers-cited-by-wells-fargo-analysts/

I wonder if people will let go of the notion that AIDS is a curse on gay people if/when they find the cure. Certainty, God's curse wouldn't be thwarted by our humble scientific discovery, would it? I don't believe it is, nor is the flu or a common cold. The world is fallen, and I believe this is a symptom.

 

[Fedusenko]

There will never be a 'cure'. There is too much money in researching it. Although Magic Johnson used to have aids......

 

[Christ_empowered]

I don't know what to think about drug prices. On the one hand, I *get* that there's an investment involved, I do. But then...take my Abilify, for instance. OK, wow--a one of a kind antipsychotic. Finally.

But I think maybe they spend more on direct to consumer ads than they did on research. Seems that way. Sad? Abilify. Bipolar? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't...either way, Abilify. Psychotic? Abilify.

1 month of Abilify will run I think 600+. That's more than rent for a lot of people. I get mine in generic form from India (different rules on generics) for 30ish monthly.

So, I dunno. I kind of think we could do with more governmental controls--price caps or something--because as much as I appreciate new drugs, I don't think its a great idea to let corporations run wild with drug prices when lives are on the line. Also, I read somewhere that a lot of our latest and greatest meds are "me-too" drugs. Like all the SSRI antidepressants than came out, one after the other after the other, once Prozac hit it big. Same with pain relievers and antacids and "atypical" antipsychotics....

I feel that the government should somehow tweak the system to reward true innovation, not simply let "me-too" drugs flood the market and drive up health care spending.

 

[jasoncran]

I have Health Partners it is a HMO, but Jason you can go to the VA, but your wife can't.

no i cant, i will pay them. when i saw them in 2007. i paid for that visit.

 

[Lewis]

Mike Wrote
I know pharmaceutical companies sell at high prices, but they put millions of dollars on the line for the one drug that makes it to market.

Now that, is true.

 

[Mike]

There will never be a 'cure'. There is too much money in researching it. Although Magic Johnson used to have aids......

Brother, you're wrong. True, companies are funded to research it, but the one that nails it with an FDA approval will re-define the term "blockbuster drug". Some countries (the U.S. included) will empty out the coffers to send shipments over to Africa and domestically as well.

I spent 10 years in that morally bankrupt industry. As MB as it is, the vast majority of novel molecules are discovered here in the U.S. where the free market rewards research. The whole medical industry needs an enema, but it's still the best; still many things to hang our hat on.

 

[handy]

There will never be a 'cure'. There is too much money in researching it. Although Magic Johnson used to have aids......

Magic didn't have AIDS... He was and still is HIV+...

I know it's a ton of money... a ton...

But my brother-in-law died of AIDS....

It's a ton of money, but not "too much"...

 

[Mike]

Now that, is true.

So was the rest of it, you miner for things taken out of context. :p

The best of the best still come to America, because this is where medicine is researched and practiced. People all over the world will go to great lengths to obtain innovative discovered in the U.S. Say all the bad things you want until you really need a breakthrough drug, but you'll find that the U.S. is still the world leader in innovative research

 

[handy]

So was the rest of it, you miner for things taken out of context. :p

The best of the best still come to America, because this is where medicine is researched and practiced. People all over the world will go to great lengths to obtain innovative discovered in the U.S. Say all the bad things you want until you really need a breakthrough drug, but you'll find that the U.S. is still the world leader in innovative research

Yes.... A lot of people are alive now with HIV... back when Bruce contracted it, there wasn't much to keep it from going into full blown AIDS...

Since 1995, the mortality rate of HIV+ people has dropped over 70% here in the State... due mostly to drug therapy... only somewhat due to changes in behavior causing less spreading of the disease.

 

[Lewis]

So was the rest of it, you miner for things taken out of context. :p

The best of the best still come to America, because this is where medicine is researched and practiced. People all over the world will go to great lengths to obtain innovative discovered in the U.S. Say all the bad things you want until you really need a breakthrough drug, but you'll find that the U.S. is still the world leader in innovative research

I know Mike, but I am still talking about the cost. The old and the poor suffer much because of the cost. Now this new anti HIV medication is going to be $1,200 a month, no HMO is going to cover that, so the poor continue to die.

 

[handy]

Lewis, many times there are Patient Assistance Programs for people who cannot pay for their own meds...

 

[Lewis]

Lewis, many times there are Patient Assistance Programs for people who cannot pay for their own meds...

I know Dora, many of these HMO's refuse to pay for certain medication. And I have went through that before. Good thing that I am a vet.

 

[jasoncran]

the va doesnt always take care of us vets. i know a vet who contracted hep c in country and needs last i asked him a liver transplant after his hep c is treated with interferon. neither was given to him. he has pushed the issue to get the interferon. i know he is still alive. they do ration care.

 

[Lewis]

Jason there are many Vets here in Philly, N.J. and Del who are being treated at the Philadelphia VA for Hep C, and they get no problems at all.

 

[Fedusenko]

You are lucky if you have recieved good care at the VA. My mother worked at one and hated it because of how the system worked. She went back to active military hospitals.

 

[jasoncran]

Jason there are many Vets here in Philly, N.J. and Del who are being treated at the Philadelphia VA for Hep C, and they get no problems at all.

lewis i will let you know if im declared unfit military service and the pocket change i may get for that.

i know some va centers are good and others arent. but since im not disabled i must pay and take docs away from persons like YOU and its two hours away. pointless to bother.

my asthma is service related and the govt will pay for it.