Pharmaceutical Industry Reform

The prospect of healthcare reform in the United States was a hot topic of debate during the 2008 presidential election, and as of 2010, American citizens were still grappling with this complex and polarizing issue. Inherent in all discussions of how best to provide quality healthcare is the subject of pharmaceutical industry reform. Americans spend $200 billion on prescription drugs annually, and that rate is growing at more than 10 percent per year. Those most interested in reforming the pharmaceutical industry argue that drug companies have too much influence over regulatory laws, and these hopeful reformers take issue with the rising cost of prescription medicines, the unfair practices embraced by drug companies eager to rake in massive profits, and the aggressive marketing campaigns spearheaded by ...