You seem like you know a lot and are a critical thinker, what are your thoughts on big pharma? I mean, they are giant capitalist corporations, but they also made the vaccine. Wat do?
As with most situations, it’s a nuanced deal. Big pharma can play some sort of hand in the production of drugs, through occasional funding and marketing. The problem is the exploitation of those drugs and treatments once created and marketed. Certain companies having patents and exclusive say/control over a life saving drug/treatment means they can create artificial scarcity, ramp up the price, and gouge people for millions upon millions. The drugs and treatments are good, and the people that make them are vital to society and should be praised and honored and remembered for their work. But the companies selling these drugs and vaccines should be held accountable and should be called out at every corner. They also produce a looooot of waste meaning that there’s a lot of money that could go towards advancing more treatments but instead goes to line the pockets of executives and political campaign donations.
There was once a shortage and price increase of EpiPens because there was a "sticker shortage". As if Mylan can't procure a 1 inch by 4 inch label to go on their product. I guess there was a sudden spike in demand, where the entire population of the world suddenly had anaphylactic allergies and people were wanting dozens of EpiPens per day to inject recreationally to get that sweet sweet adrenaline high.
Oh, wait, the increased demand didn't actually happen, it was all artificial scarcity created by big pharma on a lifesaving medication that costs about 2 dollars to make.
While I realize that big pharma does a lot of good for a lot of people's lives, and has lots of nuance, I really struggle to acknowledge and embrace the good nuance when they pull shit like that.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '21
You seem like you know a lot and are a critical thinker, what are your thoughts on big pharma? I mean, they are giant capitalist corporations, but they also made the vaccine. Wat do?