• massive_bereavement@fedia.io
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    4 days ago

    Couldn’t they use it instead to repair their public health systems that are probably (like everyone else) hurt badly from Covid instead?

    • albert180
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      4 days ago

      We should do some reforms there too. Drug costs make up a huge proportion of health spending. Usually more than what is spend on outpatient treatment and doctors salaries. Negotiating for all EU Citizens could lower drug prices considerably

      • Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        3 days ago

        We should also produce then INSIDE THE EU!

        Elvanse and many others are made in China. Thats why there often is a huge shortage, because of shipping

        • albert180
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          3 days ago

          It would certainly make sense for the WHO Essential Medicines. But I guess not for every drug. We still want trade, just not with unreliable partners like the US.

          Also the drug shortages are caused by the Health Insurances negotiating to hard for generic drugs.

          Usually they tender out all prescriptions for a specific substance from their insured population. And the lowest bidder takes them all.

          This leads to the situation where there is only one company left which makes the actual substance (and a few who market it under different names).

          You should at least let a couple companies win with different supply chains, or make a requirement to produce domestically or in friendly countries