Want to get the attention of Big Pharma and patients who do not try to prevent common diseases? Require this statement or something equivalent on every bottle of medications (prescription and not prescription) sold. [Of course, filling in the blanks with numbers derived from clinical trials, longitudinal studies and other credible scientific information collected by independent qualified professionals.]
This drug works ___% of the time for ___% of the patients who use it, producing a ___% percent improvement for ___ months at a list price of $___ per month. Insurance typically pays for ___% of the cost. ___% of patients experience severe side effects.
This data — or some variation of it — is currently or should be collected by the FDA and confirmed by consultants independent of both the FDA and the pharmaceutical company.
Big Pharma will not like this proposal. Elected officials who have been “bought” by Big Pharma contributions to their election funds will not like this proposal. We should listen to neither group.
Consumers of medicines and treatments should know the approximate cost of their treatment and its efficacy when collaborating with their healthcare providers on a treatment plan.
Everyone should consider the relative costs of preventing diseases rather than treating them. The information provided by these labels could help individuals decide whether a healthy lifestyle provides financial benefits to them.
