News & Research, Society

Health Policy, Access & Societal Issues

There’s been a ton of articles on health policy, access to medical care and issues about health in US society this week, but my headaches have been to bad for me to keep on top of it. Here are the relevant articles. Sorry for the lack of commentary; I plan to feel better next week (don’t we all?).

Canadian Online Pharmacies a Better Deal for Meds
In a study of 44 brand-name drugs, researchers found that 41 were less expensive when purchased from Canadian pharmacies online. (via Kaiser Daily Reports, Sept. 22)

Study: Medical Research Spending Jumps
“Total U.S. spending on medical research has doubled in the past decade to nearly $95 billion a year, though whether the money is being well spent needs much better scrutiny, a study has found.

“‘If we’re soon going to be spending $100 billion a year, we’d better have treatments that work over a long period of time against diseases that are important today and will be more important tomorrow,’ said Dr. Hamilton Moses III, co-author of the study and chairman of the Alerion Institute, which conducts studies on research policy.” (via Kaiser Daily Reports, Sept. 21)

Generic Drug Sales to Soar Past Estimates
“Sales of generic drugs in the United States this year are expected to top $28 billion, nearly 65 percent more than previous estimates, according to new projections released yesterday by IMS Health, a leading drug industry research company.” (via Kaiser Daily Reports, Sept. 20)

Americans Want More Medical Research
A new report “shows that many Americans have lost faith in the country’s health care system, and more than half (55%) say they are currently dissatisfied with the quality of health care in the U.S., up from 44% five years ago.

“Researchers say the results show that Americans want more funds and resources devoted to health care and health research, and more importantly, they are willing to pay for it.”

Drug Firms Launch Web Site to Disclose Trials Data
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations started a website to track clinical trials. The goal is to announce when trials begin and make the conclusions available within a year after the trial is over. (via Kaiser Daily Reports, Sept. 22)

Glaxo Settles U.S. Drug Pricing Complaint
GlaxoSmithKline will pay $150.8 million to settle allegations that it inflated average wholesale prices on Zofran and Kytril. They aren’t headache drugs, but if the company inflated prices on two drugs, why not do it for others? (via Kaiser Daily Reports, Sept. 22)

House Committee Requests Investigation of Use of NIH Grants
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton asked Health and Human Services Inspector General Daniel Levinson to look into possible disparities among the research activity estimated that National Institutes of Health grant recipients report and the amount of research that they acutually do.

Barton and another committee member wrote, “The alleged misuse of NIH grant funds raises serious public policy concern of waste, effectiveness and integrity of taxpayer-supported research programs.”

Senators Seek Investigation of FDA Conflict-of-Interest Policy
In a letter to the Goverment Accounting Office, several senators wrote, “We are concerned about the process that supports FDA’s decisions to waive conflicts-of-interest rules for scientists with financial ties to the manufacturers of products under consideration or their competitors. . . . These practices appear to have undermined the public’s faith in the objectivity and fairness of FDA’s advisory committees.”

Senate Approves Amendment Requiring FDA Advisory Panel Members to Disclose Conflicts of Interest
“The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed an amendment to the fiscal year 2006 Agriculture appropriations bill (HR 2744) that would require members of FDA advisory committees to disclose publicly 15 days before meetings any conflicts of interests for which members had to obtain waivers to allow them to participate. . . .

“An FDA official said that the experts the agency seeks to serve on advisory committees often have previously worked for pharmaceutical companies. In addition, he said that FDA is ‘looking at some significant steps to improve the disclosure’ of such ties.”

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