How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care And How We Can Repair It

The American healthcare system is in a state of crisis. Costs are skyrocketing, access to care is dwindling, and the quality of care is declining. One of the major culprits behind this crisis is Big Pharma, the powerful pharmaceutical industry that has spent decades lobbying for policies that benefit its bottom line at the expense of patients.

In this article, we will explore how Big Pharma has broken American healthcare and what we can do to repair it. We will discuss the following topics:

Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care and How We Can Repair It

by John Abramson

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3481 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	334 pages

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• The history of Big Pharma and its influence on American healthcare
• The ways in which Big Pharma has abused its power to harm patients
• The steps we can take to hold Big Pharma accountable and reform the American healthcare system

The History of Big Pharma

The pharmaceutical industry has its roots in the 19th century, when scientists began to develop new drugs to treat diseases. In the early days, the industry was dominated by small, family-owned businesses. However, over time, these businesses began to consolidate, and by the mid-20th century, a handful of large pharmaceutical companies had emerged.

These large pharmaceutical companies quickly realized that they could use their power to influence the American healthcare system in their favor. They began to lobby for policies that would increase demand for their drugs, such as the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. They also spent heavily on marketing to convince doctors and patients to use their products.

As a result of Big Pharma's lobbying and marketing efforts, the American healthcare system has become increasingly reliant on prescription drugs. Today, Americans spend more than $450 billion on prescription drugs each year. This is more than we spend on any other type of healthcare service.

The Ways in Which Big Pharma Has Abused Its Power

Big Pharma has used its power to harm patients in a number of ways. For example, the industry has:

• Raised the prices of drugs to unaffordable levels. In recent years, the prices of many prescription drugs have skyrocketed. This has made it difficult for many Americans to afford the medications they need.
• Marketed drugs for unapproved uses. Big Pharma has often marketed drugs for uses that have not been approved by the FDA. This can be dangerous for patients, as it can lead to side effects that have not been studied or tested.
• Suppressed research on the dangers of drugs. Big Pharma has sometimes suppressed research on the dangers of its drugs. This can prevent patients from getting the information they need to make informed decisions about their care.
• Lobbied against reforms that would benefit patients. Big Pharma has often lobbied against reforms that would benefit patients, such as proposals to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

The Steps We Can Take to Hold Big Pharma Accountable and Reform the American Healthcare System

We can take a number of steps to hold Big Pharma accountable and reform the American healthcare system. These steps include:

• Passing legislation to regulate the pharmaceutical industry. We need to pass legislation that would regulate the pharmaceutical industry and prevent it from abusing its power.
• Supporting independent research on the dangers of drugs. We need to support independent research on the dangers of drugs so that patients can get the information they need to make informed decisions about their care.
• Educating the public about the dangers of Big Pharma. We need to educate the public about the dangers of Big Pharma so that they can make informed choices about their healthcare.

The American healthcare system is in crisis. Big Pharma has used its power to harm patients and profit at the expense of our health. We need to take action to hold Big Pharma accountable and reform the American healthcare system. By working together, we can create a healthcare system that is affordable, accessible, and high-quality for all Americans.

Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care and How We Can Repair It

by John Abramson

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3481 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	334 pages

FREE