Pharmaceuticals + Doctors = Big Business

I’m fortunate enough to have traveled extensively to other countries, learning about other cultures, and the like. Whenever I return to the states, I notice either a positive attribute about our country or a not so positive one.

A glaring not so positive one is the predominance of commercials (ads) for pharmacological products—drugs—either over-the-counter or prescription.

Even in our democratic neighbor to the north, Canada, with socialized medicine, drug commercials are scarce. I can only attribute the preponderance of these television (and magazine) ads to our capitalistic, profit-driven system. Obviously, these ads are selling something, from which a nice profit will be garnered. In America, drug commercials on television occupy thirty (perhaps more) percent of the paid advertising space.

Why is this alarming?

First, we are not encouraged to seek natural remedies for our ailments. If you suffer from Diabetes, they have a drug for that. If you have high blood pressure, they have several drugs to help you manage that. If you have problems with sexual function and arousal (estimated at 20 million men in the U.S.), they have numerous drugs for that.

You get the point. But what may not be apparent is that these drugs are not resolving your issues, rather just covering it up, like a Band-aid. In other words, these pharmaceuticals primarily address your symptoms, not the causes.

Certainly, some of these drugs are necessary for many conditions. Yet, many times there are natural and simple remedies that would work just as well.

Second, these pharmaceutical companies are not passing along (pushing) their products solely to improve your health. In fact, many of the side effects (listen carefully at the end of the commercial) of these drugs are quite horrendous, possibly causing death in some subjects.
These companies are in this business for themselves—their profits.

Finally, perhaps saddest of all, doctors are complicit in this public travesty.

When was the last time your doctor suggested you choose a natural remedy for some health complaint you have?

No way! Here are some pills that might help.

This occurs because doctors (medical professionals) acquire benefits for encouraging drugs that they prescribe.

What sort of benefits? Vacations to tropical locations supplied by pharmaceutical companies, for instance.
How do I know this? Because I’ve spoken with representatives of drug companies, the ones that visit doctors offices and inform them of new products on the market, as well as new incentives to prescribe these drugs.

This is scary stuff. Sort of sounds like a street pusher, who rakes in cash and then buys a fancy BMW.

Except, it’s all legal. I am not against making a profit, but the following appears valid to me: as long as medicine is part and parcel with profit, then true public health will be in jeopardy.

Should healthcare, medicine, your well-being be up for sale?

Perhaps you know all this already.

In that case, is there a drug for common sense?

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