Life-saving medicines seem always out of reach for the poor and underprivileged. Why are drugs that are supposed to save human lives always only available in rich countries than poor, backward countries? The answer is—money! The high prices of drugs make it impossible for people in poorer nations to buy them, and the governments of these poor countries are unable to address this problem because they have neither the money nor the power to stand up for their rights in international forums. The irony here is that most life-saving drugs have more uses in the third world than in the developed western world because there are more diseases and more affected persons in the third world. However, the third world doesn’t have the money to buy these drugs, and at the same time, the third world populations do not have any other cheaper alternative to these costly drugs because the rights to manufacture inexpensive alternatives are not given to other people who are capable of producing them. Then, why are medicines priced in such a way that most drug prescriptions are not available to the poorer countries, and, even if they are available, why do the poor have no other choice other than to buy these medicines from the same guys who price them so high? So, why do the companies that manufacture these drugs price them so high, and why do they make it mandatory for the people to buy these high priced drugs only from them?
The answer to this lies in two words—revenue and profits! The reason for this high pricing, according to the giant pharmaceutical conglomerates, is that billions of dollars are spent on research and development of new drugs. These companies say that this is justified because the money thus got is spent on discovering and making better medicines for humankind. The reason why the end-user consumer cannot buy cheaper alternatives to the high priced drugs is because there is no one available to buy them from. Giant pharmaceutical companies are protected by patent laws that prevent other companies from manufacturing drugs with the same formulas, even if the other companies can produce cost effective versions.
The reasons behind the high prices as stated by the pharmaceutical companies are absolute lies. The real reasons are that the pharmaceutical companies need giant profits to pay off politicians, lobbyists, company executives and also marketing and advertising. The pharmaceutical companies spend double the amounts they spend on research and development on expenses involved in marketing, advertising, lobbying, and paying fat salaries for their executives. The drug companies cry that if the prices on drugs are curtailed their spending on research and development will be severely affected, but if you read between the lines whet they’re actually saying is that if drug prices are controlled, we will not be able to bribe lobbyists, fund political parties and pay phenomenal compensations to our executives. As long as these pharmaceutical companies hold such tremendous influence over decision makers, the common person can only dream of buying medicines at affordable prices. If you or someone you has a drug addiction problem and need information on a drug rehab, please visit DrugFree.org.
You are absolutely right that drug companies are using “Research and Development” as an excuse to raise already costly prices of prescription medications! Over half the American population are currently taking daily doses of prescription drugs, and some are being forced to decide between their prescriptions and their dinner!
It is outrageous that in the States the same prescriptions found in Europe are three times as much the amount, simply because they can do it and will do it!
Thankfully, we do have some hope, such as researching the discount generic drugs that Are Available out there. Search engines online (for example Medtipster) can help you find your prescription drugs at a price that is not only affordable but Reasonable too!