Government run health care

[Edwina's Secretary]

Puckstop, I don't think it's supply and demand, R&D costs, or government regulations. I think it's Big Pharma's goal of profit. They tweak their formulations just slightly (Prilosec to Nexium, Effexor to Pristiq, Ambien to Ambien-CR) so they don't lose the big bucks that come with the patents. Have you ever tried enrolling in a pharmaceutical assistance program? It's not easy to qualify. And I believe that pharmaceutical companies can afford to help many more patients than they actually do. Why is it that they are willing to give away anti-retrovirals in Africa, but not to HIV/AIDS patients who might need them in North America? What's wrong with this picture? I don't think health care is in need of reform; I think health insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription drug coverage) is desperately in need of reform.

So good to have the voice of a healthcare professional - who works in the industry.

I agree with you the expression "healthcare reform" is a bit of a misnomer. The issue is how it gets paid for (insurance) and who can afford it.