EpiPen price hike

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/27/epipen-prices-canada_n_11741240.html

In the U.S., the EpiPen is sold by pharmaceutical company Mylan, which incrementally hiked its price more than 500 per cent over the last nine years, pushing its list price for a two-syringe pack from US$94 to more than US$600.


The american health care, such a lovely system.
I doubt even gangsters who run protection rackets would be so inhuman.

http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/heres-the-real-reason-behind-epipen-price-hike-its-not-due-to-capitalism

In recent days, there has been a major controversy over the staggering price increase of the EpiPen, a portable drug injection syringe that delivers live-saving epinephrine during a severe allergic reaction.

The maker of the device, Mylan, has been sharply criticized in recent days for this dramatic increase in price, as people literally have their lives depending on the availability of the drug. Since 2009, the drug’s price has increased from $100 to $600.

If it becomes too expensive for someone to afford, and they have a severe allergic reaction, he/she could die from not being treated in time.

Hillary Clinton was one of the most vocal critics of the price spike, slamming Mylan for the increase that will hurt consumers.



Bernie Sanders also chimed in on the issue.

Now is what Hillary and Bernie are saying here a legitimate issue? Believe it or not, it is legitimate. The cost of life-saving medication is something that concerns every single person who relies on that medication.

However, what is likely not legitimate is their solution to the problem. As progressives, and even straight up socialists, they’re just calling for government investigation and more intervention.

What’s the obvious problem here? There’s already enough government red tape in the medical sector of the economy. Further government control of the medical market will only make greater problems later on down the road.

More specifically though, there is a reason why Mylan was able to raise the price of the EpiPen to insanely high levels, and that reason is not due to the free market.

Mylan was able to increase the price of the EpiPen because they hold a government enforced monopoly of the product.

That’s right, the government, to whom everybody is complaining, is creating the conditions under which Mylan can raise the price to literally whatever they want, and consumers have no choice but to buy.

This is not a result of the free market, but of government enforced monopoly and cronyism.

As Jay Stooksberry of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) reports:

In what other markets can a business jack up its prices without alienating its customers and pushing them toward competitors? Answer: when that market has no other competitors. Emily Willingham of Forbes explained it aptly with a recent article titled, “Why Did Mylan Hike EpiPen Prices 400%? Because They Could.”

In early 2016, Sanofi, Mylan’s primary competitor, discontinued its line of Auvi-Q auto-injectors, similar to Mylan’s product. With Auvi-Q out the picture, Mylan gained 98 market share of epinephrine injectors.

But surely a new business will take advantage of this public relations debacle, enter the market, and offer a more affordable option, right?

Unfortunately – and as no surprise to libertarians and free market advocates – federal regulators continue to buffer the padding that surrounds Mylan’s monopoly. Shortly after the Auvi-Q recall, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries pitched a generic version of the EpiPen. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) squashed their efforts, citing “major deficiencies” in their application. Teva plans to appeal the decision, but won’t be able to effectively move forward until 2017 at the earliest.

Once again, we find that government is not the solution, but the problem. There IS another option for EpiPen users that has been developed, but federal regulators at the FDA will not allow it through.
Why? Probably because cronyism is running rampant at the FDA, and it is profitable for both Mylan and the FDA to keep a monopoly enforced.

There are innumerable drugs that have been developed that could save and improve lives, but the FDA acts as the gatekeeper for most prescription drugs.

Originally posted by whodey
http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/heres-the-real-reason-behind-epipen-price-hike-its-not-due-to-capitalism

In recent days, there has been a major controversy over the staggering price increase of the EpiPen, a portable drug injection syringe that delivers live-saving epinephrine during a severe allergic reaction.

The maker of the device, Mylan, has been ...[text shortened]... at could save and improve lives, but the FDA acts as the gatekeeper for most prescription drugs.

Originally posted by sonhouse
Normally, like the old phone company splitup, they try to prevent monopolies but the medical industry has so many billions, it's no surprise they can get away with murder.

Originally posted by Zahlanzi
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/27/epipen-prices-canada_n_11741240.html

In the U.S., the EpiPen is sold by pharmaceutical company Mylan, which incrementally hiked its price more than 500 per cent over the last nine years, pushing its list price for a two-syringe pack from US$94 to more than US$600.


The american health care, such a lovely system.
I doubt even gangsters who run protection rackets would be so inhuman.

Originally posted by whodey
If you want health care to have 100% control of health care, then the people will wind up like US war Veterans. Once they get too sick, they get put on secret death lists.

Originally posted by Zahlanzi
like the death lists in canada? denmark? germany?

Originally posted by whodey
Like the death panels in the Arizona VA dingleberry

Or perhaps the government is singling out war veterans because they know how to use various weapons and probably reeeeally screwed up in the head after coming home from wars abroad. Who the hell knows?

Originally posted by Zahlanzi
"Like the death panels in the Arizona VA dingleberry"
i am not talking about your idiotic healthcare system. everybody knows how it's a mess. i am talking about countries that have went for socialized (to a degree or another) healthcare and they don't have "death lists"

I know a woman who has a kid in public school who needs an epi pen. The state requires the child in question have one as well as the school nurse. So the state is forcing citizens to further enrich corporate America, much like the government did by bailing out corporations during the credit crisis.

Originally posted by Zahlanzi
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/27/epipen-prices-canada_n_11741240.html

In the U.S., the EpiPen is sold by pharmaceutical company Mylan, which incrementally hiked its price more than 500 per cent over the last nine years, pushing its list price for a two-syringe pack from US$94 to more than US$600.


The american health care, such a lovely system.
I doubt even gangsters who run protection rackets would be so inhuman.

Originally posted by Suzianne
You cannot pin this one on the "american healthcare system".

It is only corporate greed, as usual. The epinephrine in the syringes costs a few dollars at most. Can't blame the system with any seriousness here. Blame the CEO, she's the "inhuman" one here.

Originally posted by whodey
Did you even read my posts?

It was the US government that basically created the monopoly on epi pins, which allowed them to charge such outrageous amounts of money for them.

But as usual, those in government are always given a free pass and never held accountable......for anything.

So what else is new?

Originally posted by whodey
Did you even read my posts?

It was the US government that basically created the monopoly on epi pins, which allowed them to charge such outrageous amounts of money for them.

But as usual, those in government are always given a free pass and never held accountable......for anything.

So what else is new?

Originally posted by Suzianne
You cannot pin this one on the "american healthcare system".

It is only corporate greed, as usual. The epinephrine in the syringes costs a few dollars at most. Can't blame the system with any seriousness here. Blame the CEO, she's the "inhuman" one here.