Innovative Drugs Save Lives Only if People Can Afford Them, NYT

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/...l?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

 

it's a wonderful initiative. however, price agreements between government and pharmaceutical companies, can become grossly inflated over time, despite the original aim of keeping costs affordable.

an example is melatonin tablets to improve sleep - subsidised prescription costs patients $36 AUD each month - but you can buy an almost identical product for $3 AUD a month.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme#Sustainability