Is Big Pharma a Conspiracy or Not?

Use this forum to discuss the January 2019 Book of the month "Winning the War on Cancer" by Sylvie Beljanski
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Kendra M Parker
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Re: Is Big Pharma a Conspiracy or Not?

Post by Kendra M Parker »

I would agree that it seems to me that there is certainly some impression of conspiracy between Big Pharma and the US government. It goes back to the idea that Big Pharma has money for lobbying.

Still, I’m not sure where the lines get drawn. Sylvie’s family certainly experienced some significant hardships in France. Was it conspiracy? Perhaps. Do her products work the way she says? I’m not completely convinced. It almost seems a bit too convenient and a bit like marketing.
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Post by NL Hartje »

Well, I'm not sure anyone disagrees with the idea of "Big Pharma" being a real entity. And truly, there are likely hundreds of thousands of workers who work for large pharmaceuticals who have ZERO say or profit share. Although I stand firmly against price gouging in any way, I wonder what the alternate plea is concerning the number of workers employable in correlation with the prices charged. I hope to see a change someday in the Big Pharma industries but I worry about how it will affect the number of lower class workers' jobs in the sector.
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Lisa A Rayburn
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Post by Lisa A Rayburn »

Unfortunately, I've seen chemo fail more than I've seen it succeed with the people in my life. I have also known a couple of people who felt it was the biggest mistake they had ever made due to the ... lingering ... effects. I honestly do believe that Big Pharma actively combats the use of more natural (and sometimes more successful) treatments. Note I did not say cures. They don't even want the public to know about natural alternatives that might be helpful, much less more effective than pharmaceuticals. However expensive it might be to cover these up, that is nothing to the money they make by ensuring that people choose their drugs. So long as that is the case, their "conspiracy" to stifle natural methods will continue.
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Post by DakotaA »

Big pharma is very much a reality, seen most horrifically in the USA. I've lived in three countries- one with universal health care (UK), one with extremely affordable health insurance and social benefits (Germany) and the USA, where we only went to the doctor if it looked like we were basically dying. This is due to big pharma.
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Post by randompersonavility »

Well, it does sound true and come to think of it... pharmaceutical companies have researched for a medicine that could cure cancer for many years but up to this day they haven't produced one.
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Post by _Delly_01 »

Wow. I did some research on the book after reading a sample, and when I found out medical practitioners were banned by the Supreme Court from revealing the author's findings to their patients, I assumed it was because the findings we inaccurate, misleading, and dangerous.

Reading these comments is making me re-consider everything I know about medicine. Not the book by any stretch, because I feel the author was a little too close to be truly impartial, but everything I considered about medicine in western society. Money and greed makes the world go 'round, it seems. Scary stuff.
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Post by NuelUkah »

AndrewZachariah wrote: 03 Jan 2019, 01:34 Heaving finished this book, and glanced through some of the other topics and replies in other forums, I have noticed a debate beginning as to whether or not the story of Sylvie's family was just a bunch of conspiracy theories. Given your impression of the book and/or other experiences you've had, do you think the story of the author's struggle is true? Do you feel the Big Pharma is a reality? How do you think pharmaceutical companies and government are affecting the healthcare systems with regard to access of information, treatment, and use of holistic methods?

I firmly believe there is some significant grains of truth to the story the author was telling of what her family experienced. Pharmaceutical corporations run medicine, especially in western countries. As an example of another natural remedy that faced a similar experience to the herbs mentioned in the book, one might look into Ibogaine. This herb is an incredibly powerful anti-depressant, and an extremely successful treatment for fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and assisting with detoxification from extreme addiction. It too has been studied and tested; however in the United States, this is considered a class I federal substance, the same classification THC marijuana continues to have on a federal level.

Similarly, I find that insurance companies, particularly state health insurance, is often willing to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for highly addictive, dangerous substances to treat pain and chronic pain disorders. These same companies are entirely unwilling to pay for massage therapy, which may be just as successful and significantly less dangerous. They may pay for physical therapy, but only up to twelve sessions a year. Forget about acupuncture, that won't be covered in the slightest.

I certainly think there is some truth to collusion between Big Pharma, health insurance companies, and legislature, especially in the United States. What do you think?
Yes, the story is true. Big Pharma is real. These guys are in it for the money. They don't care about the welfare of the people. Mass ignorance is their money machine. So, whatever will reveal the truth to the people is a threat to them.
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Post by timd »

I do believe that the big corporations are out to make money and I wonder to what degree they enjoy the cooperation of the medical fraternity. In my case I am commenting from a South African perspective, however, I believe that our doctors are just as sceptical as doctors on the US are about alternative treatments. In our case, traditional healers do enjoy the support of our government but not the insurance industry. Personally, I believe that money is the goal of the big companies in the long run.
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Post by Mercelle »

I believe Sylvie's family's story. Speaking of big pharma, their involvement in medicine goes beyond manufacturing. They control patents for life-saving drugs and fix prices. That locks out any competition, making healthcare inaccessible to those who need it the most.
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Post by Tester013 »

I agree with OP's stance on this matter. Whilst one may argue that medicine shouldn't be commercialised and sold for profit, it is the unfortunate reality here. However, I believe that there's a fine line between covering costs and pure greed. I understand why Pharmaceutical companies may want easily available herbs and alternatives to their medicine to be banned, ultimately in their point of view they've already shelled out perhaps millions to create their drug and a cheap alternative would potentially bankrupt them.

I'm just trying to justify their actions, just looking at their point of view.
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Post by amandathebibliophile »

I definitely see big pharma as greedy and lacking scruples. I found this book enlightening and as a critique of big pharma, I’m thrilled it’s being given attention!
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Post by Gurpreet Arora »

I think the Big Pharma is true enough. I heard one story from a medical researcher that one doctor actually found a way to treat cancer without having too much chemo, and the results were wonderful. However, they (big companies) shut him up by threats and, of course, bribe. His method were gaining attention because patients have claimed they were better. They were cheaper too. It was just about changing lifestyles and all. I dont know about it in the long run whether it will come back, but at least it has given his patients hope. It sounded true enough but we still need to find papers and all for this to be real and not just a conspiracy
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Post by Morgan Jones »

Yes, Big Pharma is greedy and money hungry. Non of it is a conspiracy since I, personally, consider it the biggest example of capitalism.
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Post by elivia05 »

a9436 wrote: 03 Jan 2019, 08:46 I definitely see big pharma as a greedy, unethical symbol of capitalism, and it is refreshing to see a critique being given such attention.
I work in the pharmaceutical field... in a retail pharmacy. I can honestly say greed is such and intense role in the everyday operation of the pharmacy. The rules placed on us by the “higher ups” ensure that customers are unhappy and employees are put in undesirable situations. This topic needs more attention. Our situations get worse as each day passes, and I am becoming terrified for my safety to even go to my place of employment.
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Post by Jaypagliaro »

I completely back the author.

Now a days, there is a pill for everything. If it is ineffective for you, they are quick to push three more on you. The "fix" to everything seems to be a medication, and God help you if you tell the doctor you would prefer not to take meds. Yet, beyond "take this pill," there is no solution to fix the problems that pills cannot.

Between this and the opiod crisis, the author is spot on.
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