Whoever said there is no money to be made in curing the sick has never heard of Sovaldi. The drug boasts the ability to cure Hepatitis-C in 9 out of every 10 patients who use it.
But it’s a cure that is outside of the price range of many people.
Each pill you take in an effort to potentially save your life will cost you upwards of $1,000!
Needless to say that in this economy, not too many people have thousands of dollars just lying around. Especially if they are presently sick and stuck trying to pay various medical expenses.
Insurance companies? State Medicaid programs?
Well, imagine them as unconscious after having fainted at the hefty price tag. Even if Sovaldi justifies its $90,000 treatment cost with the word “cure”, it seems to too expensive for those first tasked with covering the cost.
Insurers are struggling to pay for high cost breakthrough hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi. https://t.co/G7YvE9wrYT pic.twitter.com/bSsjisiYbF
— [ Health News ] (@GoInsideHealth) June 4, 2014
No matter how desperate low income patients may be for Sovaldi, it’s likely they’ll simply never get a hold of the pricey “miracle” pills.
This is especially unfortunate since studies show that even if Sovaldi weren’t available, these organizations and businesses would still be shelling out a load of cash to cover medical expenses for Hepatitis-C patients.
This pill costs $1,000 – each. http://t.co/x746v9LmxB pic.twitter.com/VswqX3Unmv
— Iodine (@iodine) April 13, 2014
It’s likely that rationing will occur. Special circumstances will require very specific patients be awarded the opportunity to use Sovaldi. Expect lots of hoop-jumping, red tape, and “technicalities”.
We’re perhaps seeing the reality of what a cure actually means in the 21st century: There’s more money in curing people than treating them. That is, if they can afford either option.
Who Should Get Pricey Hepatitis C Drugs? http://t.co/2wfnPXZSvz #healthcosts pic.twitter.com/vdPC0GeCpc
— Kaiser Health News (@KHNews) May 5, 2014
Things are going swimmingly for Gilead Sciences, Inc., the drug maker responsible for putting Sovaldi on the market. The company reported earnings of $2.3 billion within the first three months of 2014.
Despite the high cost, vice president Gregg Alton insists that it is in fact “a real huge value” and a virtual bargain for anyone who can afford to buy it.
For everyone else it’s business as usual.
Do YOU think $1,000-a-pill is too much to pay for a life-saving cure? Comment below!
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