The National Health Council Responds
A few weeks back, Karen Tumulty and I wrote a piece about the health care reform payday that appears to await the producers of biotechnology drugs. We discussed the wide array of third party groups and individuals who support the biotech industry's position on delaying generic competition for costly biologic drugs, and we noted that these same groups and individuals have received money from the biotechnology industry. One of those groups, the National Health Council, has written a letter to TIME defending the integrity of its position on the biologics issue. I have posted the letter in full after the jump.
October 26, 2009
Letter to the Editor
Time
1271 Avenue of The Americas
New York, NY 10020-1393Dear Editor:
The organization you describe as “calling itself the National Health Council” has an honorable history of serving patients with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers dating back to 1920. To imply that it is a front organization for the pharmaceutical industry and the industry's stand on biologics is an opinion not based on research or fact or even an interview with the NHC. (“How Drug Industry Lobbyists Got Their Way on Health Care,” November 2, 2009)The National Health Council's position on biologics is the result of a process led by patient organizations, which have majority membership on our policy committees and board of directors. Our position is the result of reasoned discussion and collaboration utilizing a systematic approach that includes patient focus groups, extensive literature review, and thoughtful analysis. Our position is detailed and available on the NHC website for all to see.
The difficult task of determining the appropriate discovery protection period for biologics needs to address ways to encourage the development of much-needed new treatments while also taking into consideration the affordability and accessibility of such products for patients. The debate before Congress gives us a unique opportunity covered in the NHC's position statement but not mentioned in your article – the chance to develop creative, patient-focused solutions that hopefully will lead to better treatments and cures for conditions with limited or non-existent options, such as ALS or Alzheimer's.
Sincerely,
Myrl Weinberg, CAE
President
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1
The only thing any for-profit organization can be trusted to do is maximize profits.
Thus "the chance to develop creative, patient-focused solutions that hopefully will lead to better treatments and cures for conditions with limited or non-existent options, such as ALS or Alzheimer's." Is a fallacy at best.
Everybody knows it is far more profitable to treat a condition than to cure it. So we know in regards to any group seeking a profit a cure isn't even a consideration. Better treatments of course also means "more expensive" treatments. You think these people are going to put money into researching something that isn't going to boost thier profits more? If they happen to stumble on a cheap cure will they really market it?
The answers are obvious to anybody with a brain.
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2
MS, thanks for posting this. Hmm, so Myrl spent the “time” to write a letter to defend the NHC position without explaining what the NHC's position IS. A letter? What's that? No twitter, email, or even just picking up the cell phone and yelling at you? Which editor did Myrl have you in mind? Rick Stengel? Lovely Amy? Did YOU or KT receive complaints directly from them? If yes, was it was off the record (or you would've posted it)? Those dudes could've posted HERE and faced us sunny, cheerful readers; that would've taken guts. So instead they want us to click on their site and drive up site traffic. No one at TIME would ever do anything that brazen, of course. Did Marketing or PR ghostwrite this for Sarah, I mean, Myrl?
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3
It is important that we indeed have an informed debate on IP rights. Patents and Copyrights are both impportant motivating factors for business activity and both involve a careful balance between competing interests.
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If we use the current state of Copyright law as a guide however, it is absolutely clear that IP holders have a vastly disproprtionate sway in Congress and that Consumers and people interested in a robust public domain are getting screwed.
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This leads me conclude even without any direct knowlege of the issue, that the NHC's exclusive marketing terms are very likely way too long for the public good and also way too likely to reward with fresh patents, innovations that don't actually constitute improvements.
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No amount of Corporate gobbletyspeak is likely to affect my judgement. -
4
Everybody knows it is far more profitable to treat a condition than to cure it. So we know in regards to any group seeking a profit a cure isn't even a consideration.
Even monolithic corporations are run by human beings. And besides, having exclusive marketing rights to a cure for a major disease would pretty much allow you to name any price!
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5
Michael, I have praised the House bill for all the good things they have included that the Senate so far has not. This is something that I did not like.
I had not ever heard of "Ever greening" until Jane Hamsher blogged about it. Do you think that you and Karen might write about this and bring attention to what this means? I am sure that a lot of people like me did not know about this.
Would be good if this could be done while the Senate can correct this before they pass health care.
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6
Dear Editor,
We love puppies.
And America!
I can't believe you didn't include these facts in your article.
Much love,
Myrl Weinberg, CAE
President
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7
Michael Scherer:
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This is interesting (link to the NHC's website ):The National Health Council brings together diverse stakeholders within the health community to work for health care that meets the personal needs and goals of people with chronic diseases and disabilities.
So, essentially, this is the organizational equivalent of Partnership for Prescription Assistance's “Help is Here Express,” with Myrl Weinberg playing the offended role of Montel Williams.
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The NHC "brings together stakeholders", i.e. PhRMA in desperate need of good PR, with "people with chronic diseases and disabilities", i.e. people who are in desperate need of expensive drugs --the prices of which are kept artificially high for US buyers through the political action of said "stakeholders".
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Front group for PhRMA (and Microsoft, another interested party in the IP debate)? No, no, just folks who generously want to help others! Hey, nobody can say that PhRMA are hard-hearted elites who subvert the political process to ensure market advantage at the expense of Americans' health! Of course not...just look at these helpless people here who would never have been able to afford the drugs that PhRMA doled out to them --all out of the goodness of the NHC's members' hearts! Bringing together "stakeholders"...that's what it's all about!
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Here is a list of their corporate members:Abbott
Amgen
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AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
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Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
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Eli Lilly and Company
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EMD Serono, Inc.
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ENDO Pharmaceuticals, Inc
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Forest Laboratories
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GE Healthcare
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GlaxoSmithKline
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Johnson & Johnson
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Merck & Co., Inc.
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Microsoft Corporation
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Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation
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Novo Nordisk Inc.
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Pfizer Inc
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Roche
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sanofi-aventis
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Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
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UnitedHealth Group
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Wyeth PharmaceuticalsThis sort of defense, that "Prescription Assistance" doled out to the demand side of NHC's membership somehow proves the organization's lack of interest in the money-source side, is dishonest. The benefits that some individuals and organizations receive through their participation in this public relations game is more than offset through the work done ensuring that everyone else continues to be deprived of fair-market (and sustainable) pharmaceutical pricing.
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That folks are desperate enough to sign up to be exploited by the paymasters of the NHC is an indictment of their organization's existence, not a crowning laurel.
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When Myrl Weinberg declaresThe National Health Council's position on biologics is the result of a process led by patient organizations, which have majority membership on our policy committees and board of directors.
, the obvious questions would be
"So it is just a happy coincidence that your position is identical to that of the funding members of the NHC?"
and
"Isn't there an inherent conflict of interest in your organization taking these positions at all, since some of these patient organizations depend on the corporate funding brought to them through participation in the NHC, which is its ostensible purpose ?"
and
"If the purpose of the NHC is to 'work for health care that meets the personal needs and goals of people with chronic diseases and disabilities,' how does the NHC manage the divergent interests of its 'diverse stakeholders' , i.e. that one set of stakeholders has an interest in policy that acts to reduce prices, market manipulation and perhaps profits of the other set of stakeholders? How does the NHC arrive at policy positions when the interests of its stakeholders are diametrically opposed?"
and
"In light of these questions, has the NHC considered discontinuing its costly advocacy campaigns and television advertising, or is advocacy for specific policy objectives the prime purpose of the NHC?"
, don't you think, Michael Scherer?
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7.1
stuart,
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Michael will have one of the actual reporters still working at the magazine ask those questions.
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In the meantime, he will continue to repost press releases and qualify them as "news."
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8
===off topic just a wee bit
"as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe Lieberman"allow"?
Now, tell me this, my fellow Americans, how did we get to this stage whereby one person, one mortal, can be so powerful - even more so than the POTUS - such that he holds the fate of millions of patriotic Americans in his grip?
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8.1
…because D leaders were insane enough to believe he'd work with them ...but is he mortal? Or a warlock?
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8.2
Because "filibuster" now means "threaten to filibuster and watch Harry Reid crumple."
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9
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/11/hoekstra_hold_evidence_in_ft_h.asp
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This seems like a problem. They knew about it?-
9.1
spob,
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Who is"they," and what do they know about, according to you? I read the link. So please clear it up for us. -
9.2
US intel agencies knew about the Ft. Hood shooter's al-Qaeda sympathies, and they did nothing.
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9.3
spob, and you got that from where? In the piece you linked? I didn't see that claim in there anywhere. Can you highlight the portion that makes that claim?
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10
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/fort-hood-shooter-contact-al-qaeda-terrorists-officials/story?id=9030873
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Good grief. Sure makes Obama's "don't jump to conclusions" seem, um, a little silly.-
10.1
spob, provide some evidence to back up your claim:
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US intel agencies knew about the Ft. Hood shooter's al-Qaeda sympathies, and they did nothing.
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Otherwise, you're just lying... Again. -
10.2
palinatowel, if news reports are to be believed, this turkey made a lot of noise about his sympathies, and it attracted the attention of intel agencies. I don't see how I am lying here.
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10.3
Mainly, spob, it attracted the attention of fellow soldiers.
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Link
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The question is why the Army didn't do anything about it. -
10.4
palininatowel, if an Army major was trying to contact al-Qaeda members, that's a problem, and it appears that our intel operatives knew about it.
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The military victims and their families deserve answers. -
10.5
Your post is beside the point. What is critical here is that the guy was not hiding anything. Numerous colleagues in the Army had reported him to commanders as he had become increasingly vocal about his opposition to U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Link
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In recent years, he had grown more and more vocal about his opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and tortured over reconciling his military duties with his religion. He tried to get out of the Army, relatives said, and apparently believed it to be impossible, though experts say he was probably given inadequate advice.
...
But because the Army had paid for his education, and probably because the Army was in great need of mental health professionals and was trying to recruit Arab-Americans, he was advised that his chances of getting out were minuscule, relatives said.
...
A former classmate in the master's degree program said Major Hasan gave a PowerPoint presentation about a year ago in an environmental health seminar titled “Why the War on Terror Is a War on Islam.” He did not socialize with his classmates, other than to argue in the hallways on why the wars were wrong.
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The former classmate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of working for the military and not being authorized to speak publicly, said that some students complained to their professors about Major Hasan, but that no action had been taken.
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spob, this guy was all but shouting his beliefs and the Army, in its infinite wisdom that sends PTSD soldiers back into active combat roles, ignored the complaints of his fellow soldiers.
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Why didn't the Army act, spob? And want to know how far back he was trying to get out of the Army? From the same article:
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“They told him that he would be allowed out only if Rumsfeld himself O.K.'d it,” said a cousin, Nader Hasan, referring to Donald H. Rumsfeld, then the secretary of defense. Relatives said they were unclear whether Major Hasan sought assistance from a private lawyer; then, about two years ago, his cousin Nader Hasan said, he resigned himself to staying in the Army through the end of his commitment.
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This guy had been disgruntled for years and the Army did nothing about it, despite pleas from his fellow soldiers.
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Want to blame someone? Look no further than Army brass.
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11
Here's some more food for thought:
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http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/national/link_in_ft_hood_slay_spree_DxTQPcEWvdr8WBocxSgNUI
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How long before some of the victims' families start asking questions?-
11.1
From your link (and many other news stories):
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A government official, who asked not to be identified, said an initial review of Hasan's computer use has found no evidence of links to terror groups or anyone who might have helped plan or push him toward the attack. -
11.2
Links or no links, palininathong. Since Hasan simply shouted out "Allah Akbar", translated, "God is Great!"
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In and of itself that is not anything that anyone should be put to death for, but since 9/11 this has been the rally cry for all al-Qaeda terrorists just before they let all hell loose and completed their suicidal bombings.
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One can assume guilt by association, none the less. Who really needs a web site link to frame his guilt.
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But, then again, I am sure your own web site links to the folks over at NAMBLA do not necessarily prove your own guilt despite your affinity towards young boys.
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Ain't that right, palininathong? -
11.3
rusty,
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Very odd comment from you. What is NAMBLA?
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Oh, I think this guy will face the death penalty. Deservedly. But spob does his usual "just-making sh**-up" schtick. -
11.4
Sarah Palin in a thong …now that image is a memory cleanser. I forget what the hell I was going to write.
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11.5
Rusty-
"God is Great" is more than just the Al-Queda battle cry, it is the call to prayer of the Islamic faith, said twice a day by every one of over 1 billion muslims on the planet, and they've been saying it since the mid-7th century, a hell of a long time before 9/11. I don't think that 'guilt by association' for saying God is Great is enough to merit a death sentence.
For the record, I'm with grapecrush in thinking that Hassan will deservedly face the death penalty for killing his fellow soldiers, not for whatever religious tripe he was spouting while he did so.
Terrorism and conspiring with terrorists are very specific charges that many right wingers seem to use as blanket charges for anyone who attacks members of our military. I don't see anything in this case that matches the terrorism descriptor, and that's based on official military statements (especially those by base commander Cone).
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12
Wow, a 2 page article on how big Pharma gets a pass from Obama in the legislation for health care reform, and this is all the attention that is paid to it?
."President Obama proposed seven years as a compromise."
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Probably the one and only time I have cited Huffington Post.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/internal-memo-confirms-bi_n_258285.html
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What did Obama promise to big Pharma? I am glad you asked and Tumulty and Scherer DID NOT expose in this lame blog.
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1. Oppose importation of drugs.
2. Oppose rebates in Medicare Part D
3. Oppose repeal of non-interference
4. Oppose opening Medicare Part B
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Yes indeedy, CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN
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You people are not journalists. You are HACKS!-
12.1
I have to agree with Rustydog, in as much as that not enough attention has been given in general, throughout major news media outlets to this story and its implications for continued hyper-inflationary, US-only health care prices.
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12.2
My god, stuart, I concur. I agree with rusty on this one, too.
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Step One in dealing with the pharmas is an immediate return to the pre-Clinton days that banned advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers.
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That would drive down costs immediately, primarily by driving down consumer demand for drugs that they may or may not need. -
12.3
Thank you stuart and palin. I am so disgusted with the Media in general. There is no reporting going on, simply the regurgitation of other garbage and citing it from other sites.
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No investigative journalism at all. Even Fox News does not do a good enough job with investigative subjects, shy of the stories they broke on ACORN. I am hopeful tho with the addition of John Stoffel, that we may see some soon.
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If they are not touting talking points we would be totally clueless.
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Shameful indeed.
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13
Here's some food for thought:
How long before the commenters around here stop taking spob seriously? It seems like a problem.
It's an interesting question.
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13.1
Link doesn't work...
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13.2
It's not supposed to work, Stalwart. Read what the link says.
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I'm commenting in the style of spob.... -
13.3
Oh, I totally missed the point of that.
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I agree with you that commenters here shouldn't constantly let their threads be hijacked by off-topic trollery or from those whose sole interest is to score political points against liberals and Democrats, and who can't be counted upon to engage in honest discussion (a separate category of thread-ruining than trollery).
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Constantly changing the subject is a warning flag of trollery, i.e. people who like to get honest people arguing over nothing for their own amusement.
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