Pharmaceutical companies invest enormous resources in the development of drugs that save and improve lives. Despite the great innovation and effort, public sentiment often swings more toward skepticism and criticism. We explore the importance of balancing the criticism with acknowledgment of the beneficial medicines produced by Big Pharma and the necessity of ensuring these companies can continue their vital work for future health advancements.
The Crawford Stand with the president of Crawford Broadcasting Company, Don Crawford.
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Pharmaceutical companies are among the most maligned companies in America. Big Pharma, they are called, and they are the constant and consistent targets of lawyers, sarcastically termed ambulance chasers. Boy, do they go after these companies. One bad incident can result in lawsuits, which may produce tens of millions of dollars in damages. But every day these companies produce and provide life-saving, life-extending, life-transforming therapies to millions upon millions in our very own United States and of course around the world. I wonder often how many people would die tomorrow without the drugs produced by Big Pharma which keep them alive. Do you take one? Do you appreciate what you have? Some experts indicate that every single American citizen, old and young, has been the beneficiary of a drug or takes one on a regular basis. I wonder if your body has been the recipient of such a drug and have you been advanced in life or health because of it? Or in a life-saving moment, have you been the very fortunate recipient of a life-saving drug produced by Big Pharma? Have you? maybe it’s time for you to give a word of thanks to them instead of criticism. But no matter, the relentless assault on pharmaceutical companies goes on. Some of the criticism and cry for control by the government may be justified, maybe, but most of it is not justified. And there are federal agencies like the FDA, a governmental watchdog, presumably protecting the people, protecting we the people, you and me, making certain that only safe and effective drugs reach the market. And that’s a good thing. But because of the vilification of big pharma, regulators at the federal level are often hesitant in granting permission for a drug to be marketed, no matter its life-saving or life-extending capabilities. The constant delay And testing and examination of all kinds, no matter how necessary, adds significantly to the cost of a drug when you and I purchase it. It adds a terrific amount of cost to that drug. And in many cases, politicians can do the most harm. Their incendiary rhetoric corrupts public understanding and in some cases stokes outright hatred. Governmental policies make it far easier for Big Pharma to be sued for the very slightest matter. They spend, these companies do, tens of millions of dollars in legal defense every year. Because huge judgments occur and the cost of the drug continues to go up or even in some extreme cases it’s taken off the market entirely. And when that happens, There comes the hue and cry from the public for price controls, firmer and stronger regulations against big pharma, and the relaxation of protections for pricing, and especially patents which protect the drugs against competition for any number of years. Make them shorter and let’s get more generics, cries the public. We the people believe we will have the very same beneficial effects for a lower price with a generic made drug. Maybe, then again, maybe not. In the favor of big pharma, these often incredible drugs are born out of some of the world’s most ingenious innovation and imagination. The minds, the brilliant minds of the scientists who make these drugs happen are rare commodities on this earth. Months and years are devoted to research testing, to trial and error, before a drug is ever presented to the federal regulators for approval, and with a request for marketing to the needy patients of the world. The scientists in Big Pharma work for the cures of the most horrendous diseases, Alzheimer’s, investing tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions of dollars in some cases, in research and development and testing, and with no guarantee, no guarantee whatsoever, that such an investment will be returned, much less make a profit, politicians and lawyers are determined that they will not in so many cases. When, my fellow Americans, was the last time you were given a drug which saved your life, extended it, or cured a condition, large or small, and without which your life may have ended or permanently be riddled with pain. Do you take the products of Big Pharma, the drugs, any of them, on a regular basis to save your life or improve the quality of that life? Do you? And if you do, are you grateful? Are you thankful for the men and women who invested tens of thousands of hours and dollars to make that drug happen and make your life better? No operation of any kind can occur without drugs, none. Whether anesthesia or some other, no operation of any kind would be safe or curative. Instead of chastising Big Pharma all the time, perhaps we the people, the blessed recipients of these drugs, should give thanks to them and hope and pray they continue their absolutely necessary work in research and development. What would our world be like without what they do and what they produce? Have you ever thought of that? Let us hope and pray Big Pharma continues to invest and recruit the most brilliant scientific minds and motivates the innovators to give their lives in the search for new medicines and cures for the benefit of all humankind. and in America especially, and in fact all the world. Again, imagine for one minute what America and the world or your life would be like if there were no drugs available. What would you do? And that includes the most expensive drug made to the very simple aspirin. Drugs produced from years of costly investment on the one hand and over the counter on the other. Well, you know, I don’t take many drugs, and I’ve never had much of them administered to my little old body, but I want to tell you, any drug which I have ever used, I’m very thankful for. Are you? To be sure, on occasion there is greed and overpricing and some marketing unfairness, and that does exist. But those circumstances are rare. They really are. They’re rare. But in those cases, there will be just recompense. My fellow Americans, innovation is incredibly expensive, as is real, creative, consistent, professional research and testing. It is incredibly expensive. And if there is not fair payment for those services or a profitable return for those innovators or on the investment, Those innovative minds which provide us, we the people, with the drugs that extend, save, or improve the quality of our lives will spend their lives in other industries. And then, what will we do? Even scripture tells us that no one builds a tower, that is, develops a new drug, without considering the cost thereof. And, at the bottom line, that workman, Big Pharma, and its innovative people, they are worthy of their hire. They are worthy of the real value and the fair, profitable wage and return on the products they produce. Don’t you agree? Well, the next time you are administered a drug produced by Big Pharma, then let me ask you that question. Don’t you agree? And aren’t you grateful? And so, my fellow Americans, What would your life be like if you had never had the benefit of a drug produced by Big Pharma? Would your life, I ask again, be the same? Or would you even have life at this point in time? Governmental controls and pricing and regulations would do nothing, in my opinion, but destroy innovation, drive away the very best scientists, and allow the constant assault of diseases, old and new, to rule the day. I ask that we not let that happen. We not let that happen. We must somehow find a way to thank and encourage Big Pharma on the one hand, and on the other hand, provide these drugs to those who so desperately need them. And that’s always a work in progress. I for one would believe our great physician, our Lord, would have it so. even more so than the innovators he has given us. He is the ultimate healer, but he uses them to accomplish his purpose.
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The views expressed here on the Crawford stand are those of the speaker. Okay, what’s your view? When I say big farmer, what do you think? Put those thoughts in an email and send it to Mr. Crawford. at stand at CrawfordMediaGroup.net. When you do, be sure to tell Mr. Crawford on what station you hear the stand. His email address again is stand at CrawfordMediaGroup.net. He would love to hear from you this week and know what you think about what you heard about Big Pharma. When you want to review what you hear, go to our website, CrawfordMediaGroup.net. The Crawford Stand is a public affairs presentation of Crawford Broadcasting Company and this station, serving God and country. I’m Bill McCormick.
