People grumble about high medicine prices<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The following are some people's thoughts on
\nmedicine prices.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Fuad Afdhal, a former executive of the widely
\ndiversified Bimantara Group and now a successful businessman: The
\nmain reason why medicine is very expensive is high promotion
\ncosts. The aggressive promotion of medicine includes conspiracy
\nwith related parties. Even by my standards, medicine is still too
\nexpensive.<\/p>\n
Dartim, private driver of video clip producer Jay Subiyakto:
\nMy relatives and I always go to public clinics when we are sick
\nfor cheaper treatment. For a man with an income like mine, even
\nthe so-called generic drugs are still too expensive. That's why I
\nwill never see a private practitioner, who is well-known for his
\nor her high service charge. This sort of doctor usually
\nrecommends a bulk of expensive drugs as well.<\/p>\n
Amir, an employee of a printing company: As a regular user of
\nmedicines to overcome hypertension, I frequently see the doctor.<\/p>\n
As a common citizen, I cannot compare the prices of my
\nmedicines with those sold overseas. As a patient, I seldom
\nquestion the medicines my doctor recommends to me.<\/p>\n
All I know is that every year, the prices of my medicines
\nincrease at a stunning rate of about 20 percent. But every time
\nmy doctor gives me medicine, I always ask what it's for, how it
\nworks and whether it has side-effects. Other than that, I can
\nonly ask him to give me the cheapest medicine, particularly
\nbecause I will be using it on a long-term basis.<\/p>\n
I really think most of our doctors lack idealism, which would
\nmake them want to spare patients the burden of having to pay for
\nexpensive drugs. Instead, the majority of our doctors have the
\nwrong concept in prescribing drugs for their patients: They will
\nchoose the one -- perhaps the most expensive brand -- for which
\nthey have been \"bribed\" into promoting.<\/p>\n
Sugiyono, driver of Citra taxi: If I go to a hospital, I
\nalways tell the doctor that I'm a taxi driver so he or she could
\ngive me medicines which a taxi driver could afford to buy. I
\ndon't know whether I'll change this practice when one day God
\ngives me a better job with better pay.<\/p>\n
Sugijo, owner of a pharmacy in South Jakarta: It's amazing how
\nthe prices of some medicines have skyrocketed while the prices of
\ntheir generic versions have not changed at all. It means that the
\nprice hike is not caused by a change in the price of raw
\nmaterials. Maybe the factories want more profits, or maybe they
\nwant to speed up their return on investment, or maybe this is
\nbecause of the fluctuating rate of the dollar against the rupiah.<\/p>\n
Dzamilla, a university student: \"It's still a mystery to me
\nwhy the government prefers to control the prices of goods like
\ncement rather than that of medicines. I won't believe there's no
\nbig money behind this mystery. People can delay purchasing cement
\nbut not medicines, or else they could die. (bsr\/pwn)<\/p>",
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