Big Pharma PSA (1)

The average drug prices in the US have increased by 31.6% since 2016, while the inflation rate has only been 3.36% per year. Drug companies blame the government for funding cuts, but most scientific breakthroughs actually happen through university-funded research. They benefit from taxpayer-funded research and raise prices, hurting taxpayers. To address this, we should monitor politicians and support low-profit drug companies like Civica Rx and Comptest Drugs. Are you overpaying for medicine? More than likely you are, just like most other Americans. Do you know that according to ASPE.gov, since 2016, the average drug price has increased by 31.6%? In that same time period, the average inflation rate has been 3.36% per year, meaning the average prices of goods have gone up only 17.99% since 2015. What is the common excuse for this huge discrepancy? They blame the government for giving them less funding for research, despite most scientific breakthroughs happening with university-funded research, leaving companies that only have proof to produce the drug. To make a long story short, they reap the benefit of university research funded by taxpayers and complain about the government giving them less taxpayer money, so they jack up their prices, which ultimately hurts the average taxpayer. Even if we are to believe their excuse, it still seems unfair to me. So what can we do about it? First, we should all monitor our local politicians, funders, and votes to weed out the corruption allowing this to happen. Secondly, you can use a low- or non-profit drug company, such as Civica Rx, and Comptest Drugs to get cheaper drugs and support the companies trying to create change.