George W. continues to tout his plan to reduce prescription-drug costs.... A shell-game that does not address the true problem. In 1997, laws expired that prohibited the advertising of such drugs. As a result, we are now inundated with such "D.T.C." (Direct To Consumer) ads. The Pfizer company will spend $100 MILLION DOLLARS next year alone, TO ADVERTISE VIAGRA!!! Glaxo-Smith spent $70 MILLION in 2003 to advertise "Imitrex" alone. THE TOTAL ADVERTISING COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN AMERICA IS MORE THAN $128.3 BILLION DOLLARS!!!! This doesn't include the "loss-of revenue" resulting from patients "self-diagnosing", and wasting the time of their doctors; the result of vague & misleading television ads. Who does Bush think PAYS for that $128.3 Billion Dollars in advertising???? EVERY AMERICAN WHO EVER BOUGHT A PRESCRIPTION-DRUG!!! Dave Wellman http://davewellman.blogspot.com
- posted by Dave @ 6:03 PM