Canadians to Bush: Hope You Lose, Eh

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

That's a frightening avatar you have there, Grojlach... and I know who the old PM from Canada was... but it'll take me some time to remember the new one. By the time I do, they'll change him again.

[Timber Loftis]

Pharmaceutical Sales Per Capita / Avg. Life Expectancy

US $654 / 77
Japan $421 / 81
France $294 / 79
Switz. $269 / 80
Germany $217 / 78
Italy $209 / 79
UK $197 / 78
Spain $190 / 79
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Looks like the money we spend in the US ain't buying us a longer life. What is it buying? Well, cash in the fat wallets of drug companies at an astounding level. Wanna know where to invest? Check this out:

Return on revenue (2002)
Pfizer 28.4%
Eli Lilly 24.4%
Intel 11.6%
GE 10.7%
Verizon 6.8%
ExxonMob 6.2%
Disney 4.9%
Wal-Mart 3.3%
Daimler 3.3%
GM 0.9%
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Let us see the prices drugs are sold for elsewhere. Remember, if the BigDrugCo will sell the drugs elsewhere for less, they'll sell them here for less. They ain't gonna take a loss, that's for sure.

Price of a prescription:
Lipitor $272 US / $159 CN
Zocor $372 US / $198 CN
Prilosec $108 US/ $62 CN
Prevacid $382 US / $181 CN
Zolofg $222 US / $140 CN
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Healthcare spending in the US rose 9.3% in 2002.

(figures from Time Magazine Feb. 2, 2004 issue)

[ 02-09-2004, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

[WillowIX]

Even though your numbers really don't represent it Timber, it's a growing problem in almost every western country. Drugs are replacing care, even when surgery, or other therapeutical means, is by far the better choice. Instead we take the "cheap" way out. What no one thinks about is that surgery most often is a one-time expense and isn't handed out twice every month. Dang bureaucrats!

[ 02-09-2004, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: WillowIX ]