Can someone explain something to me?

i think people have issues with the drug companies because in todays age every other little kid is on some kind of drug, its a drug they dont need, they do more damage than good, and the people are starting to get sick of it.

as for the rich, they are the ones that control the world, im not sure i agree with the direction the world is going in.

When I read posts like this from Ricky I can literally feel my anger and disgust at his incredible ignorance on economic issues ready to pop, that the Holy Spirit has to work overtime to restrain my response!


I work for a medical device/orthobiologics company, and I know dozens of people, from workers with only a High School degree, getting paid a good wage, to company execs, to research and development people, in the Pharmaceutical industry, and I see first hand how many of these companies, and individuals, GREATLY enhance the quality of life for MILLIONS of people.

Last year on a mission's trip to Panama, a guy I didn't know, who broke his back digging ditches, turned out to be the CEO of a major company of over 30,000 people. What a wonderful brother in the Lord he is after getting to know him. The year before another exec brought suitcases full of medicine to the Dominican Republic, helping hundreds.
Guess how many Humanity helping drugs these countries have developed? TRY ZERO RICKY!

The costs to invent, research, develop, clinical trials, pass incredible FDA scrutiny and regulation, then get DRs. and hospitals to see their value, then market the drug, and don't forget the lawyers waiting eagerly to sue, ALL WHILE SUPPORTING HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WITH A GOOD INCOME, IS STAGGERINGLY EXPENSIVE!!!

And MOST, never make it to market!

Are there bad actors in this industry? OF COURSE THERE ARE! Just like there are in EVERY single other aspect of human existence, whether in business or personal life.

Dear Lord, thank You for blessing us with pharmaceutical companies. Please forgive the constant complaining from those that are never satisfied with the blessings You have given THEM, and make us ALL more grateful for all that You have provided for us. In Jesus Name

You should send a thank you card to the American people, we're the ones subsidizing y'alls medicine.

So we're deciding those big CEO's, large business owners and stock traders are the example for legal morality? I'm not saying all are evil but most of them are greedy. Those that work in stocks and trading are the worse.

As for the second let me just say something my pastor says. We do the natural and let God do the natural. Yes we should trust our doctors, we can't live our lives just disregarding doctors wishes and believing "ah who needs a doctor God will heal me". Why do you think God placed doctors in the first place?

Look at it this way. All those people on wall street are just providing a service. The buy, sell, and trade securities and commodities for me. I'm not rich, I'm barely getting by, but I save a little for the future. I give that money to those guys on Wall Street, and they buy securities for me, so I can grow my savings at a average of 3% a year. It helps beat inflation. That's all that happens on Wall Street. They work for me. I pay them a fee for their service. Nothing nefarious happens.

not sure about #1, i have friends who are wealthy but not evil or greedy, usually the more eccentric ones who are in that "other bracket" that fall into that category, but on the flip side there some who do the opposite and are generous people.


as for #2 western practices are often geared toward taking the more profitable route of not trying to get people healed, but instead "treating" the issues continually while profiting, selling prescriptions, and running procedures on patients, trying to squeeze every penny out of their bank account... Its all business though, so it makes sense.. as for it being evil, i wouldn't doubt it, the universal sign for hospital is the caduceus.

:Quick google of what it is:

"Caduceus is a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it. It was an ancient astrological symbol of commerce and is associated with the Greek god Hermes, the messenger for the gods, conductor of the dead and protector of merchants and thieves."


some ideas come just from haters, and some is just from research/deeper understanding, and its ok to disagree

Well Hornetguy, I was think about this:

Before I could respond Angela53510 came up with just what I was thinking.

Some drugs are monsters to produce and keep. Just saying...

Pharma...root word has to do w witchcraft and potions. You can look that up. We've come a ways from that or have we?

Well GOOWZ, I heard an interesting story about that:
It was first used by these guys:
"The US Army Medical Corps Branch Plaque. The adoption, in 1902, of the caduceus for US Army medical officer uniforms popularized the erroneous use of the symbol throughout the medical field in the United States." 1

They were trying to adopt this:
"The Rod of Asclepius is the dominant symbol for professional healthcare associations in the United States. One survey found that 62% of professional healthcare associations used the rod of Asclepius as their symbol. The same survey found that 76% of commercial healthcare organizations used the Caduceus symbol. The author of the study suggests the difference exists because professional associations are more likely to have a real understanding of the two symbols, whereas commercial organizations are more likely to be concerned with the visual impact a symbol will have in selling their products." 1

From this ancient medical symbol:
"The most famous temple of Asclepius was at Epidaurus in north-eastern Peloponnese. Another famous healing temple (or asclepeion) was located on the island of Kos, where Hippocrates, the legendary "father of medicine", may have begun his career. Other asclepieia were situated in Trikala, Gortys (in Arcadia), and Pergamum in Asia. In honor of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and these snakes – the Aesculapian snakes – crawled around freely on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept." 1

1 - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not really! I looked this up last year, and there are 3 words which are similar in Greek, only one means witchcraft or potions. I can look it up again. Or you can get Bauer (BDAG) the premier Greek lexicon and look it up yourself. Of course, you would have to learn the letters in order to do that.

Amazing how this kind of misconception gets passed around the internet when it is not based on facts, at all! And always spread by people who don’t read Greek.

I know this is going to come as a shock to some of you Americans, but many countries develop drugs, besides American ones. Australia has the most advanced RA R&D program right now for RA, including genetic changes (stopping the mutant gene) and I think there is a device which is implanted coming out of Europe.

Even Canada has a big R&D program. And certainly the other western nations. So, no, we do not take advantage of Americans and their R&D. Instead, everyone benefits from others’ programs.

Now, if only they could share developments in research, but there is that pesky little profit motive. Even I am not one to suggest that pharmaceuticals should work for free. Plus, if it costs one person in the US $75,000 for 2 Rituxan infusions, and another $55,000, that suggests it is market that is causing the difference, because the same drug is not being sold in the same country for a similar price. That country being the USA.

I even get in arguments here. I’m off to rest again. Common cold still can’t be cured, in any nation!

Yes, you are both correct. Apparently, Rituxan is very expensive to manufacture. I did not research the medication, I was merely told by an infusion attendant that it had been on the market for quite a long time. USUALLY, prices come down on things that have been on the market for a long time... apparently, this drug, and others like it, are the exception to that rule.

That is why, in my original comment, I stated that the continuing high price for it was something I didn't understand.

Now, I do.

I know I am opinionated (comes with age), but I do my best to NOT be "pig-headed" about things.

Sometimes, I succeed...