VA can't afford drug for veterans suffering (dying)

[SHRED]

This is outrageous. These veterans were infected by our government and now our government, and the drug company, are turning their backs.
To top it off it was our tax dollars that helped develop this life saving drug which costs $1,400 to make.
The manufacturer Gilead is charging $84,000 for treatment. $42,000 for the VA yet the VA says it has treated just 35,000 of the estimated 250,000 infected vets. All others are on hold.

So we can develop this drug with government money (our taxes), give these vets HepC via blood transfusions and vaccines, but then when it's time to save their lives it's too expensive?

This is so fucked up.
I'm livid.



VA can't afford drug for veterans suffering from hepatitis C - CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/va-cant-afford-drug-for-veterans-suffering-from-hepatitis-c/

...

[Docreed2003]

1. Sadly...

It's true not only for Vets but for the general public as well. Many insurance plans refuse to cover the drug therapy, even though long term the cost is less than the complications of chronic HepC infections. It's fucking sickening....these new drugs are remarkable breakthroughs, yet patients can't get them, that is unless you have 50k to shell out, and another 50k if you have to be treated twice!

[SHRED]

2. So true and so sad

[spanone]

3. K&R...

[DustyJoe]

4. now now

VA annual bonus time is coming up, can't deprive them much deserved bonuses now can we ?

[Turn CO Blue]

5. Utterly awful. And he could get it his entire supply for around $11 USD in India,

and close to the airport too. Since India (africa too) has decided to ignore patent laws for life-saving medicines, they now have a thriving drug tourism industry, and their pharmacies will take US doctor's prescriptions with other forms of proof.

Harvoni is a huge tourism draw now for people all over the world, apparently. Just researched and saw a few discussions advising how to get it when you arrive at the airport.

[Scuba]

6. "Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” -- Henry Kissinger as quoted in the book “Kiss the Boys Goodbye"


This is the man Hillary Clinton described as "surprisingly idealistic."

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/hillary-clinton-henry-kissinger-world-order