Wow! I passed this on to several healthcare people I know. One of them who I remember not believing when a patient called back saying they couldn't afford their doxycycline.....

I'm wondering if Congress reads the NY Times. hmmm, can't take that for granted.

Hi Littlepaw,

Unbelievable, isn't it?

Thanks so much for passing it on!
I have done so as well.

The articles does mention a couple of politicians involved in investigating. I have just checked that link in the NYT article and found this:

"WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 — As a part of their investigation into recent drug price increases, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., requesting information about the escalating prices the company has been charging for two drugs it purchased from another drug company earlier this year."
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsro...rice-increases

This link also gives links to the letters written to Valeant and to Hospira.

I hope these practices are stopped, reversed, regulated... immediately.


DejaVu

He apparently has backed down due to the outrage and falling stock prices and has said he will not raise it so much but what he will actually do remains to be seen.

It is good that his behavior has at least brought what they do to people's attention and it would be nice if something would be done to prevent all of the companies from exploiting people.

judi

After reading this article earlier this afternoon I was going to post about this in connection with the TPPA free trade deal where Big Pharma want's access to NZ's (and other countries) prescription medication distribution - (currently controlled centrally by govt. here) This would be one of the reasons why the drug corporations are pushing for the deal - to hike up prices! Didn't get time to post earlier then lo and behold it's a feature story on tv news here tonight with Hilary Clinton wading in saying she will stop such massive increases. Will be interesting to see if anything really changes as this guy is only one of many companies that have bought up rights to low priced older medications and ramped the prices sky high.

This just came thru my mail:

http://www.naturalnews.com/051431_me...ion_drugs.html


Reading the comments, one person talks about Diatameous Earth for killing parasites. I use DE for years not constant but use it. Add it often to my MSM drinks.

We can do so much to keep our health for less money and less harmful.

Yet another drug company thinks it's OK to raise drug prices on an old drug just because they can....


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/05/bu...kers.html?_r=0

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...prim/74452030/..

Thanks, Marlene!
You might be interested in this letter written to Valeant by members of the House and Senate Oversight Committees: http://democrats.oversight.house.gov...Nitropress.pdf

Thanks again!
DejaVu

P.S. I was in a hurry when I had posted this link. I have just re-read this letter to Valeant. It's quite a letter! This letter announces an investigation into recent price increases of specific drugs. Valeant is asked to supply specific information, including the prices charged in foreign markets, etc. Anyone interested in this topic will likely find this document interesting. It's brief and to the point.

Hi Bluesfan, Thanks for letting us know what's going on with Big Pharma in NZ.
In the past, I have read the U.S. based pharmaceutical companies have made medications available for much less in other countries. Yet, this "less than is charged in the U.S." may be more than is charged in NZ at this time. (?)

Of course, the companies have something to gain by securing access to the prescription medication distribution in other countries. Hopefully, this would be an honorable business venture, in that it's taking place under "Fair Trade."

I believe you are right on, in that the companies being highlighted for these practices are likely not the only companies involved in hiking prices on old generic meds.

Should be interesting to see how this all plays out.


DejaVu

Hi Judi,
Thanks for contributing to this thread.
This topic needs as much action as possible.

I think you may also like reading the letters written to Valeant and to Hospira.
The House and Senate Oversight Committees are taking investigatory action.
Both letters are linked into post # 17.

What will happen in the long run?
I think we can all help in determining at least some of what happens by continuing to educate other people and continuing to voice concerns.

I hope we can all help to make a difference.


DejaVu