By Gilbert Ross, M.D.
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2001

LETTER
Publication Date: May 25, 2001

In regard to "Spending on Prescription Drugs Rose 19%" (Economy, May 8): I fear that many readers will view this significant increase on drug spending in 2000 as more bad news about health care in the U.S. Yet if we consider how many patients have been helped by the very drugs that are responsible for this rise in spending, we might instead see this as a step forward.

While Glucophage is one of the drugs blamed for the rise in spending, a steeper increase in prescriptions (and thus spending) for this diabetes drug would significantly improve the health of millions of Americans who have diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed. The same reasoning applies to cholesterol-lowering Lipitor and Zocor: elevated blood cholesterol is markedly undertreated in this country, leading to unnecessary suffering—and spending—as a result of heart disease. Meanwhile, the Naderite groups call for less spending on prescription drugs and—at the same time—better health. They must realize that you can't have it both ways.

Source Notes:  
Wall Street Journal