Tainted Pills Hit US Mainland 162
Tech.Luver notes an AP story on tainted pills that have arrived in the US from — not China this time — Puerto Rico. The article details a disturbing number of incidents of contamination investigated by the FDA over the last few years. "The first warning sign came when a sharp-eyed worker sorting pills noticed that the odd blue flecks dotting the finished drug capsules matched the paint on the factory doors. After the flecks were spotted again on the capsules, a blood-pressure medication called Diltiazem, the plant began placing covers over drugs in carts in its manufacturing areas. But the factory owner, Canadian drug maker Biovail Corp., never tried to find out whether past shipments of the drug were contaminated — or prevent future contamination, according to US regulators... FDA officials say the problems in Puerto Rico are proportionate with the large number of pharmaceutical plants here and generally no worse than those on the US mainland."
Article Mentions Problems in U.S. Also (Score:4, Insightful)
So you know, considering that most paint today is safe enough to use as a food coloring, in sunscreen or even toothpaste [wikipedia.org], I would prefer my elderly grandma consume the paint flecks accidentally with her medication instead of not being able to afford the medication.
So where's the story here? These paint flecks kill somebody? You want the FDA to get anal retentive on your medications, fine. Just realize those expensive drugs are going to get a little more expensive and sick people who are poor might not be able to afford them anymore.
Honestly I've heard of worse things being found in food than this.
Two observations (Score:5, Insightful)
Other interesting point is that the FDA chooses not to fine companies/enforce regulations because of the cost of responding to legal challenges from the manufacturers. What excatly is the point of having oversight and inspections, then? Basically, the FDA must have crystal-clear evidence of plant-to-market malefeasance before they can do anything.
I guess the pharma industry has gotten their money's worth with their campaign contributions. A hamstrung FDA on a shoestring budget means strong profits for big pharma.
Re:Article Mentions Problems in U.S. Also (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: Prescription drug prices (Score:5, Insightful)
health issues aren't ruled by supply and demand, especially on brand name drugs since the supplier can artifically restrict the supply without fear of competition. it's not like someone dieing has any choice (what price do you put on life?) and drug companies exploit this.
capitalism is a decent system. but it's not an answer to everything, and one of those things is health care.
Does this bother anyone else? (Score:3, Insightful)
FDA officials say the problems in Puerto Rico are proportionate with the large number of pharmaceutical plants here and generally no worse than those on the US mainland.
Wow, I'm sure glad there isn't any more paint in our meds here on the US mainland than Puerto Rico.
Remind me why the US pharmaceutical industry told us we were paying more for the same meds in this country? Something about safety...
Wrong question (Score:3, Insightful)
Essentially, the present system is to publicly (under)fund the difficult work of the basic science and then allow the private sector to patent the discoveries, remove them from the public domain, and massively profit.
In exchange, they do the technically simple tasks of clinical trials, production and assessing which drugs to release back to the public using the criterion of maximizing profit (eg viagra) rather than the health of the population (eg antibiotics or AIDs drugs for Africans).
The question should be "If you know of a worse system to develop drugs and therapies, let us know..."