[quote=UCGal]I have issues with government funded scientific studies that REWARD private drug companies.
Case in point: The NIH funded the study of natural progesterone to prevent pre-term labor. During the study the drug was produced at about $10/dose. It was proven to be highly effective.
The NIH funded the development and testing.
Based on the results of the taxpayer funded studies – the FDA approved this treatment.
And awarded the exclusive use to K-V Pharmaceutical – who is now charging $1500 dollars per dose for the drug that is inexpensive to produce.
Tax money funded the studies. Private corp profits from the studies.
I’m for tax payer funded studies. But NOT privatizing the profits from those studies.
This is one of my biggest pet peeves (and have ranted about it here before). It’s just another way of privatizing the profits, and socializing the losses.
Too many people are ignorant about the facts, and they will insist that private corporations are what drive scientific research and create innovative technologies. What so many don’t know is that the majority of basic research is funded by the government. There would be very little innovation if the government wasn’t there to support the often unprofitable basic research that is required to jump-start the more marketable and profitable R&D.
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Science? Yes, the govt needs to fund it, and in a big way. IMHO, the govt needs to receive revenue streams from companies who are able to turn public research into a marketable and profitable venture, IMHO. IOW, the government should hold the patents to govt-funded basic research, and encourage private companies to use that research without being able to buy the patents. This way, we can be sure that there is real competition, rather than the monopolistic profiteering we so often find, especially in medicine. And the taxpayers will finally be rewarded for all the expenses they incur.
As for art…maybe not government-funded, but I do think it’s important for a society to be well-rounded. Maybe we should finance it during the good times, but it’s difficult to justify public spending on art if other, more basic functions of the govt suffer as a result.
