This comment is in error on a number of levels. Firstly, most of my opinions are shared by most posters here, that is, that Gilead have been greedy and that FixHepC and its team are doing a fantastic job. I’m pretty sure that this is a common understanding. Secondly, there is nothing divisive at all about discussing the complexity of an issue rather than turning it into a black-and-white hate festival. From my point of view, the truly divisive comments are by people that express very aggressive hatred toward Gilead while at the same time buying that company’s products that have been produced under licence. Criticism here is one thing, but if one truly hates the company, then one shouldn’t be using its products.

I agree that politics is divided in the US, but the main reason for this is that voters are encouraged to think in simplified, childish terms that sees the difference between parties as choices between Good and Evil. And this is a result of shutting down debate when faced with an point of view you disagree with.

By considering both sides of the argument, I am encouraging readers to think about the issue, not to divide them. If they see my behaviour as being divisive, then maybe it is the education they received that needs to be looked at.

Screaming abuse, blocking ones ears, and calling for censorship is not useful behaviour in a complex and emotional debate..[/quote]

What I meant was, we have a loving, mutual, trusting relationship here with everybody helping everybody. We are all after the same thing. But when you start putting politics in, lots of other things come into play. People’s feelings can get hurt, and bonds can be broken fast. I have seen it countless times. I love to debate politics as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day, it would be counterproductive to our camaraderie and Hep C. Been there, done that. The internet is famous for 2 people liking the same 10 or 15 things in common, and all it takes is 1 thing to break that all up. It’s not worth it to me. But by all means, continue. As an Independent, I am for freedom as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody. And that doesn’t include feelings. [/quote]

OK, I see where you’re coming from and will try to smooth the edges of my arguments in order not to provoke more than necessary.

However, I will also continue to maintain my position that hate mongering against Gilead is not a productive way to deal with this issue. Venting anger needs to be balanced with applied rationality if the truths of the matter are to be clarified. Mutual support is one thing, but it is better done supported by reason and fact than, how can I put this diplomatically, “emoting”.

No, it’s not just the stigma of this particular disease – all sorts of drug prices are being jacked up in the US.

The question that should be asked is why has the country constructed laws that make this kind of behaviour legally tolerable? Why is the profit motive given such freedom of action above any societal concerns?

Focussing on Gilead is a distraction from these much deeper and more serious issues. It’s fine that it has got your attention, but the same behaviour is being repeated in many other cases. Such companies, and the lawmakers who enable them, need to be looked at as a group and their behaviour analysed and reformed. That’s where the anger needs to be focussed.

Let Gilead charge whatever they want.
Just let me import whatever I need

Yeah, our system has some flaws. I guess that is why so many people are lined up to leave….

“Why is the main sticking point the US? What is the problem with your legislators?”

Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question of some kind? everybody knows almost everyone of these legislators are bought and paid for, why do you think they are all millionaires, or become millionaires in a miraculously short time after they are elected? Why does Goldman Sachs pay these mopes, some of which were previously total nobodies, hundreds of thousands or millions to hear them give speeches? because they need to hear the ‘wisdom’ that comes out of their ghost written speeches? Its just a form of legalized payola…shit, everybody who is paying attention knows this,

Here is an interesting article from Chatham House (a UK-based “think-tank” on pricing medicines:

https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/medicines-pricing-there-better-way

It starts with Hepatitis C, but then goes on to talk about antibiotics (there is a global health crisis waiting to explode here as well). For antibiotics (but maybe not only antibiotics), there is an emerging idea that governments should force Big Pharma to “de-link” revenues from sales.

You can follow the links for yourselves, but there is a very nice proposition from economist Andrew Sachs that seems brilliantly simple and fair:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-sachs/rational-drug-pricing_b_8188790.html

Here is my own (super-simple) understanding how it should be:

World governments: Hey, there is a major health problem that we want to treat. We will to pay Big Pharma to find a solution. We will then let Big Pharma make 10x profit (say) on their investment. But Big Pharma must then make the treatment available to everyone at the same price. And because we (the government) funded the research, we (the government) want a share of the intellectual property (patents).

Big Pharma: Great! We are guaranteed a 10x profit on our R&D costs. We will go ahead and try to make the really innovative products you want. Who cares about sales & marketing! We will hand all that stuff over to other countries where everyone knows they can do that cheaper than us anyway.

World governments: OK, Great! Let’s do it! This way, we can treat everyone at a reasonable cost,. But you still have to pay all your taxes here, and not in Ireland.

Big Pharma: Ah, well, you see it’s not as simple as that… (joke).

“What is the problem with your legislators”

I sent a letter to my local representative. My letter talked about the number of Veterans infected with Hepatitis C by the jet injectors used to immunize them and how the VA is now denying them treatment and the fact they are not allowed to treat with generics. Since he’s a doctor I explained how the jet injectors got contaminated and the evidence we have. I also told him I collected 200 signatures from local doctors and nurses who agree with me (and who are also his constituents). I asked him to help us make jet injectors an official risk factor because that will help us find the Veterans still undiagnosed.

His answer says NOTHING about what I talked about. The part about doing videoconferences so Vets don’t have to travel is BS since they would still have to travel to a secure site at a VA facility to do the videoconference.

Here’s the response I got…..

Dear Mrs. PP

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for our nation’s veterans. I appreciate the opportunity to hear about the issues important to the individuals I serve. It is an essential part of our democratic process, and I am grateful for your input.
As a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, I am committed to fulfilling our country’s promise to our veterans and their families in recognition of the sacrifices they made to protect our nation and the freedoms we enjoy. This includes providing the care, treatment, and benefits they have earned through their service.
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that more than 135,000 veterans benefit claims across the country have been pending for over four months. I am appalled that the claims backlog has been allowed to reach this level of delinquency. That is why I introduced the Veterans Access to Speedy Review Act, H.R. 732, which gives veterans the ability to choose to use videoconferencing during an appeals hearing as a substitute for attending in person. This relieves the burden of having to travel for appeal hearings and increases the annual number of hearings the VA can conduct.
Additionally, when H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, was considered on the House floor, I offered an amendment to direct funds for digital scanning of health and benefit files. By committing resources to digitizing these files, we will further increase the VA’s capacity to tackle the claims backlog, ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely manner.
I am proud to have introduced The Veterans’ Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act, H.R. 2691, which would help survivors of veterans receive benefits without undergoing an overly burdensome claims process., This bill would permit the VA to adjudicate and pay claims for survivors’ benefits without the beneficiary filing a formal claim if evidence of the survivor’s right to the benefit already exists. Bereaved families should not be burdened with duplicative paperwork during their grieving process simply to obtain benefits that have already been earned. I will continue to work to advance these solutions and am actively reviewing additional legislation to find ways to improve the efficiency of government and provide the appropriate care for our veterans.
Once again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. As your Representative, serving my constituents is my top priority. Please continue to share your ideas regarding the VA so we can provide the best services to our veterans. To find more information regarding current legislation, constituent services, or to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my website at: http://www.ruiz.house.gov.
Sincerely,

Raul Ruiz, M.D.
Member of Congress
RR/MC
———————————–

I’m going to give him one more chance.

P

So you don’t thinsk I should start my answer with…..

“As a nurse, Hepatitis C advocate and the mother of someone who served in Afghanistan and Kuwait I am appalled by your answer.”?

P

The perfect storm would be a vet who suffers from HCV, can’t get tx through the VA, orders generic meds from India with his/her own money and has them detained by the FDA. THAT would probably be 60 Minutes material.
Publicity is political cat nip.
The real problem here is the disease.
A great many people view HCV sufferers in the same light as junkies and alcoholics- self inflicted disease sufferers in their minds.
M