RSN Fundraising Banner
FB Share
Email This Page
add comment

writing for godot

One More Prick In the Health Care Business

Print
Written by John Glassco   
Saturday, 03 September 2016 06:03

The most outrageous strategic move in the medical "care" industry, probably across all industries this year, was when Pharma CEO Martin Shkreli raised the price of a life-saving drug he had licensed by 5,500 percent.

The stakes have now been raised by Heather Bresch, CEO of Mylan. She has been raising the price of the EpiPen to $600 from $100 over several years. I think her behavior is even more harmful than Shkreli's.

Martin Shkreli is likely soon to be officially labeled a crook. This is because he seems to lack the proper amount of self-restraint. He is currently out on bail as the principal in a fraud case.

Bresch on the other hand makes 19 million a year as a salary and works behind an army of lawyers, politicians, and lobbyists who have been working together for years. She demonstrates the proper way to fleece the public, by controlling risk, whereas Shkreli demonstrates how to do it as a complete jerk.

To me it doesn't make too much difference how people take advantage of one another, even with the legislators aiding and abetting the theft - it happens all the time. However, in the field of health care, people's lives are at stake - not just their money. Patients on their back in a hospital bed or clinic cubicle are already at a disadvantage. In the US there is almost always a big bill waiting for them on the way out, with many more coming in the mail.

Congratulations Heather, You have exposed the raw, ugly greed of your company as widely as you possibly could have. You will now forever be repairing an ugly public image that is entirely your own creation. Your simple story of the EpiPen demonstrates the need for universal healthcare better than any complicated argument could have.

e-max.it: your social media marketing partner
Email This Page

 

THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community.

RSNRSN