Brazilian Government Has Free Pharmacies for Entire Population

But...but...but...you just don't understand

Brazilians are (gasp! gag!) brown.  Ecch!  How can you possibly suggest that the United States could learn anything from them?  This was founded to be a white, Christian nation.  Jesus doesn't want our government to do anything that actually helps ordinary citizens, when the money could be much better spent fighting futile religious wars in Asia!

The American people, taking one with another, are the most timorous, sniveling, poltroonish, ignominious mob of serfs and goose-steppers ever gathered under one flag in Christendom since the end of the Middle Ages.
-H.L. Mencken

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 14:08:55 PM CDT

You are close, QScribe.

The churches do not want our government to do anything that actualy helps people because if you take away the overwhelming insecurity most Americans feel about their lives, attendance at church will plummet. Just look at Europe.

On the other hand, churches love our going abroad and killing innocent people because the sadistic pleasure Americans take in killing other people helps them forget about who is keeping them insecure.

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by: Jim @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 00:27:45 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good story, but

Government employees providing free services are not universally condescending and rude to their clients

I think that unfairly categorizes the many government employees in the U.S. who are competent and courteous.  I think those who are rude are probably more memorable, but are a minority.

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by: scioto @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 14:37:21 PM CDT

It would be nice

but our government is a puppet of the big pharma companies in regards to health care.

Maybe I'm completely wrong here, but did the Brazilian government also have to buy rights to make these medicines?

I used the public option health care when I lived in Korea and I was amazed by how cheap the prescriptions were.  That was, until I discovered many of them are simply copies made with no royalties to the original companies that created the formula.  The drugs worked well, but the reason for the price was copyright infringement.

Not saying the Brazilians are doing so, but merely wondering how they have balanced the high cost.  Other countries have stepped out of bounds of patent law for public health, but ours can't.  

I really, really, really want a public health option in the United States... but are the pharmaceutical companies willing to sell their information or produce drugs at a reasonable cost?  

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by: flyerfier @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 14:57:20 PM CDT

Do what Canada did

One of the big arguments pharma uses to jack the cost of the drugs up so much is the cost to test and obtain approval to distribute new drugs. In Canada, there's a fund for that, and the companies don't have to pay for it. Shockingly, the cost actually paid to test and approve drugs is just a tiny fraction of what pharma claims it is here, even though the process is pretty much the same in both countries.

And drugs in Canada are shockingly cheap, yet somehow pharma manages to still make a profit from there.

Cause any fool knows, a dog needs a home; a shelter from pigs on the wing

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by: QueerInSoCal @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 17:55:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Whole Health Care System needs overhaul

from the schools who turn out M.D.s and R.N.s on up.  If we truly want a healthcare system run by the government, then government is going to have to pay for those college degrees and take on the malpractice lawsuit issue as well.  Are you willing to go that far?  Do you really want the government in charge of your doctor's actions?  What happens when a new administration comes in and says "Wait a minute, we believe that abortion and contraception are against Gawd's laws, so we aren't performing that service any longer".  Have to be careful what we ask for.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. - The U.S. Constitution Article IV.Section. 2. Clause 1

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by: Mbarber @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 15:22:39 PM CDT

But we don't want a health care system run by the government

At least, I don't, and many people don't.  We want health coverage offered by the government, and laws that make coverage comprehensive and fair.  That doesn't mean doctors will work for the government, as in the British system.  It's more like what France or Germany has.  The government should make good health care available to all but not be in charge of the care itself.

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by: JosephineTx @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 16:34:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Could it be any worse than what we have now?

Two and a half years ago I went blind because my health insurance company refused to pay for cataract surgery (they used the fascinating argument that a writer doesn't need to be able to see, so it would have been "elective" surgery).

Fortunately, the state of Pennsylvania, realizing clearly that it's bad policy to let productive citizens go blind, stepped in and covered the surgery through the Department of Blind and Visual Services.  You are seriously arguing that we would all be better off with our health in the hands of companies like the one I was with?  That trusting the government (in this case the state) is a worse option?

Back in the 70s I worked for Social Security for a few years, and did a good bit of work with Medicare.  In all the time I worked there, and in all the years since, I've never heard of that government-run health care system denying necessary coverage to anyone.  Not to anyone.  Private insurance companies do it routinely.  We would all be better off with a Medicare-style program extended to all citizens.

The American people, taking one with another, are the most timorous, sniveling, poltroonish, ignominious mob of serfs and goose-steppers ever gathered under one flag in Christendom since the end of the Middle Ages.
-H.L. Mencken

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 17:36:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Umm...

Either I didn't express myself well, or you didn't read my post very carefully.  I'm not sure which.  A Medicare-style program extended to all citizens is exactly what I want.  Hence my statement, "We want health coverage offered by the government...."  

I was just saying that there's a difference between the government offering health coverage and having hospitals and clinics be government-owned.  I do want a Medicare-style system extended to everyone.

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by: JosephineTx @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 17:45:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

from what I've been told

elective plastic surgery for purely aesthetic purposes (i.e., no clinical condition us and underlying dx) is also free there, I don't think we need to go to that extreme

as for drugs, the cost of development there is a hell of a lot lower than here

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by: ol cranky @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 15:57:39 PM CDT