Health Care Policy
Innovative treatments for small populations could have a far reaching impact.
Interviews:
Ernest Buetler
Trouble ahead. Our resources are not infinite. Research blocked by red tape.
Example of how red tape can imperial research.
Henry Waxman
The Orphan Drug Act came from a constituent complaint.
Orphan Drug Act brought drugs onto the market but some drugs are very expensive.
Pharmaceutical companies always seem to find loopholes in the law.
The power of lobbyists is money.
There are name brand biologic drugs-- but no law allowing generic biologics.
We need a system to make expensive drugs available. (also: Cost)
Our health care system's problems.
The future of health care in the United States.
Public investment leads to private profits.
Abbey Meyers
The pharmaceutical company stopped making the drug. They didn't care about rare diseases.
Getting the orphan drug act passed.
Now a third to half the new drugs are "orphan drugs".
The real need for drug companies.
The manufacturing process is patented, not the product.