Advertising drives up drug costs
Regarding the cost of health care, there is one quick fix guaranteed to bring down the cost of drugs: Stop the advertising!
As Mr. Barr correctly pointed out, in 1960 the cost of health care was 5.5 percent of that year's GDP. Well, one of the reasons for this, I can quickly tell you, is that drug advertising was illegal in 1960. And, the cost of advertising today morphs the drug company's research and development costs. And the advertising is just the same as R and D, thanks to Uncle Sam!
Knowing what TV ads cost, YOU are the ones paying with deducted tax dollars. Maybe think about that next time the little blue pill pops up.
Diana Skipworth
Geneva
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