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> In the United States, there is nothing stopping pharmaceutical companies from charging whatever they think the market will bear.

That is how it should be. The moment government controls prices, it will slow down overall capital investment in invention of new drugs. I think $80k price is perfectly fair given the scenario.

Until Giliad Science invented that medicine the alternative to the medicine was assured death by cancer. Have you ever paid medical bills for cancer ? $80k does sound like a reasonable amount to pay for one's life in a developed country like USA. In India value of life is much less and I am not surprised Indians are willing to pay much less for their life.

Poor Indians are benefiting at the expense of rich Americans. Indian would prefer to die than borrow and buy a $80k medicine.

I think if Americans can save money by offshoring the cheap call centers to India they can also save money by getting their health treatment in India. The thing to remember here however is that if you die in an operation theater in USA your family might get millions in compensation. In India you have to say bad luck and move on. The pills that you buy from India could be nothing but horseshit packaged in wrappers and you can basically do nothing even if you find it out.

US is at the forefront of drug inventions because markets are allowed to function, surely companies are making ton of profits but I suggest you try setting up a company and invent the same drug and sell it for cheaper price. Inventing drugs is like a startup, a giant number of research projects fail, handful of succeed. People remember Facebook and its obscenely rich Zukerberg they don't remember Bozo inventor of JokerBook, a social network for clowns.

It would be good if Americans learn to appreciate what they have rather than complain about everything.




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