While the US mulls the unique concept of bringing its healthcare system out of the 19th century and not leaving millions of its poorest citizens to die untended, our pal Bernard sends us this piece from The Independent that illustrates the ugly logic and corporate brutality of big pharma.
"This is the story of one of the great unspoken scandals of our times. Today, the people across the world who most need life-saving medicine are being prevented from producing it. Here's the latest example: factories across the poor world are desperate to start producing their own cheaper Tamiflu to protect their populations – but they are being sternly told not to. Why? So rich drug companies can protect their patents – and profits. There is an alternative to this sick system, but we are choosing to ignore it.
To understand this tale, we have to start with an apparent mystery. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been correctly warning for months that if swine flu spreads to the poorest parts of the world, it could cull hundreds of thousands of people – or more. Yet they have also been telling the governments of the poor world not to go ahead and produce as much Tamiflu – the only drug we have to reduce the symptoms, and potentially save lives – as they possibly can." (Click here for the rest)
The secret word is Sick
"This is the story of one of the great unspoken scandals of our times. Today, the people across the world who most need life-saving medicine are being prevented from producing it. Here's the latest example: factories across the poor world are desperate to start producing their own cheaper Tamiflu to protect their populations – but they are being sternly told not to. Why? So rich drug companies can protect their patents – and profits. There is an alternative to this sick system, but we are choosing to ignore it.
To understand this tale, we have to start with an apparent mystery. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been correctly warning for months that if swine flu spreads to the poorest parts of the world, it could cull hundreds of thousands of people – or more. Yet they have also been telling the governments of the poor world not to go ahead and produce as much Tamiflu – the only drug we have to reduce the symptoms, and potentially save lives – as they possibly can." (Click here for the rest)
The secret word is Sick
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2 comments:
http://www.reuters.com/article/internal_ReutersNewsRoom_ExclusivesAndWins_MOLT/idUSTRE5746VY20090805
Mark my words, "COLD FUSION WILL NOT BE FREE!"
There's always an excuse, a reasoning behind turning a profit in an unethical or immoral method. Someone will argue about the cost incurred by logistics of delivery & distribution, the cost of development, packaging, competitive advertising... Connection fees... When all else fails, something so vague as "supply & demand" will be blamed for inexcusable prices & business practices.
The control of resources & their available access is the root of corruption & villainy, the very foundation from which evil empires are built. The very audacity to perceive ownership of land, air & water... freedom is a state of mind & nothing more.
Two for the price of one?
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