What ails the pharmaceutical industry today? How could a business that has helped saved so many lives and eased so much pain over the years be spoken of by politicians today in the same breath as gun manufacturers and tobacco companies?
Too many people feel that drugs cost too much. (Unfair, I cry: Cigarettes and guns cost a lot more per lives saved!)
Here are my top six reasons – in no particular order – that pharmaceutical firms face the wrath they do. In future installments, I’ll attempt to suggest what we can do about each.
Reason 1. Most people are woefully ignorant of science and the scientific process in general. Parts per million/billion/shmillion, whatever. If it’s “natural,” it’s healthy and safe. Run away from “chemicals” and “additives!” For example, consumers spend billions on vitamin supplements without much evidence of any clinical efficacy yet we offer comparatively little appreciation for the scientifically proven miracles of modern medicine.
Reason 2. We are also ignorant of the true cost of health care and, in particular, medications as a part. Unfortunately, too many people suffer without insurance. But the rest of us with insurance don’t appreciate the true value of health care because we simply have no idea of its true cost. I bet most people can more easily recall what we paid for our wide-screens, cars and homes, yet our health is literally life or death.
Reason 3. Pills are commoditized. Major, chronic, life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and diabetes often show no overt symptoms, yet the life-saving medications to control these diseases can carry profound, unpleasant side effects or risks. The average heart or diabetes patient is likely not a happy camper, although she will likely live a lot longer. In the meantime, you feel fine, so why take these tiny pills that make you feel worse, all look and taste the same, come in a little, plain-looking plastic bottle, month after month?
Reason 4. We wallow in a culture of blame. It’s easier to blame a corporation than prepare healthy meals for our families, exercise and avoid unhealthy lifestyles, thus reducing the need for pills, surgery and so on. Plus, it’s easier to castigate some big, far-off drug company than the purveyors of heart disease right in your suburban strip mall fast food restaurant or grocery store that forces, respectively, mega-bacon cheeseburgers and low-tar cigarettes on us unsuspecting innocents.
Reason 5. No other manufacturer caters to more customers who are sick, in pain, and often in the process of dying. Let’s see, just how do you keep the customer happy? It’s only natural that the feeding hand gets bitten.
Reason 6. Disclosure: Spectrum works for the pharmaceutical industry, and about half our billings come from organizations that research, develop and market the medicines we take. Of course, drug companies have made more than a few mistakes of their own in how they’ve marketed their products, but they’ve also significantly undersold the value of their creativity, investment and benefits to the public and policymakers.
Are drug companies blameless? No. Do they deserve all the wrath they’re getting? Again, no. If you don’t agree, let me know. But I’m more interested in what you think can be done, if you can think beyond crucifying the pharmaceutical industry alone.
John Seng
