October 5, 2011 The National Physician’s Alliance has generated “top 5” lists of common clinical activities where quality of care could be improved and, in an article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, those recommendations were estimated to save the health system $6.76 billion each year if implemented. Read more
Do New Hurdles Spell an End to Blockbuster Drugs?
By Shelley Jazowski Over the past twenty years, “blockbuster” drugs have been the consistent drivers of pharmaceutical company sales and profits. Products, such as Lipitor and Plavix, have become synonymous not only with billions in annual global sales, but also have become proven, trusted medications for physicians and patients. In the coming years, many of these […]
Safety Continues to Elude Drug Development and Manufacturing
By Shelley Jazowski In a recent post, I commented on the safety of generic medications specific to product labeling. Safety concerns are not singular to generics, but pervade the drug development, manufacturing and marketing components of the overall prescription drug industry. Below, I outline three primary concerns and comment on their proposed solutions. Read more
Pharmaceutical Safety: Equal Opportunity or Double Standard?
By Shelley Jazowski With pharmaceutical companies hitting the “patent cliff,” the floodgates of generic competition are opened. An influx of generics into the market means patients can experience the same medical and health outcomes, but at a more affordable price. Although brand-name medicines and their generic counterparts are comprised of the same active pharmaceutical ingredients […]
Building a Better Health Market
June 28, 2011 US PIRG, an NCHC partner, developed a report detailing the creation and importance of state health insurance exchanges. The report, Building a Better Health Care Marketplace, details the necessary components in a health insurance exchange, including accountability and transparency, stability, innovation in cost and quality, coordination and “consumer and small business friendly.” […]