1. Practically no one in the US who needs expensive chemotherapy drugs goes without them. Either the patient goes to a 340b hospital and the hospital treats for a lower or zero cost or the patient qualified for programs that the manufacturer runs where the drug is provided for free.
2. Compare the situation in the US to the UK where the gov't said "abiraterone" is not worth the price and patients couldn't get it at all, unless the paid out of the pocket for it.(1) Do you think that's a better situation than the US?
(1) The UK gov't body NICE just decided in May to approve the use of abiraterone because the company decided to offer a discount. The current cost is a little under 3000GBP/month.
I know it sounds harsh, but at that price point, I can understand that. Money is finite, and choices must be made. That £3000 a month could possibly be spent elsewhere with greater benefits for the health of the society.
1. Practically no one in the US who needs expensive chemotherapy drugs goes without them. Either the patient goes to a 340b hospital and the hospital treats for a lower or zero cost or the patient qualified for programs that the manufacturer runs where the drug is provided for free.
2. Compare the situation in the US to the UK where the gov't said "abiraterone" is not worth the price and patients couldn't get it at all, unless the paid out of the pocket for it.(1) Do you think that's a better situation than the US?
(1) The UK gov't body NICE just decided in May to approve the use of abiraterone because the company decided to offer a discount. The current cost is a little under 3000GBP/month.