ways to fund non-biased research?
After suffering with CFS since 1985 and being thru the medical system time and time again with no solution or even decent relief of symptoms until year 24 with my illness, it becomes apparent to me there is much wasted money and time in the United states health care system. I have witnessed many types of doctors in action you can imagine and although they mean well and want to help, they are often not very effective at providing workable symptom relief, or cures unless you have a broken bone or something physical that can mechanical be fixed. The financial incentive is not there to cure it becuase the 5 minute visits are not enough to understand the patients problems, and there is no support from insurance business or goverment to find cures and good symptom relief programs. The result is a bunch of well meaning primary care doctors, or specialist doctors, doing on their best but often running up huge bills for very littel results.
If all the money wasted on redundant tests, hundreds of doctors visits, and useless drugs that often times are barely better than a placebo, were spent on research for cures and real treatments, it would be a boon for the economy, as well as, dramatically improve peoples lives. Money is wasted on drugs that barely better than placebos, money is wasted on office visits, money is wasted on duplicate MRI's and bloodwork, but the patient isn't ever educated about what he can do to help relieve symptoms cost effectively (thru diet excericse, vitamins, meditiation, stress relief) and just live life the best way possible with something that will proably never go away like CFS, diabetes, MS, etc....I wish somebody would of told me this 25 years ago and my life would be way different. However, my illness has been ignored and I have been left hanging expecting some doctor to tell me the truth or give me some direction. I have finally figured out in my own brain fogged way, I can kind of find vimtains and stuff online that may help me with relief, and the hope of remission some day.
My perception is I go in to see doctor after doctor, most of them who completely ignore what may really going on, they run a bunch of tests, prescribe medication after medication which never help, milk me for as much money as possible, then send me on to the next doctor for the same routine. I have done this literally for 25 years. Why can't somebody tell me straight; I am screwed! Mark, just eat the best you can, take vitamins, get rest, and try to live your life! (in the mean time Mark, we are doing real research to find a cure for diseases like yours, and your disease is not just psychological).
IT help me more than anything, for our country to have a real long term plan and not just sticking ours heads in the sand like America has done with financial reform on down the line. Not the instant gratification way, but the way that has a real "long term" vision. How many people who feel they were once bright and capable are now barely able to pay bills and do stuff like me? No wonder why innovation is suffering in the is country!
I can see many other people with chronic disease going thru the same thing I have gone thru. I would expect the same is true for alheimerz, diabetes, adhd, tourettes, etc....
Part of the problem is capitalism. Sick people and CEOS objectives and diametrically opposed. Drug companies have trained doctors and patients that we should be able to take pill and everything should go away(at the tune of about $150 a month per drug). Drug companies advertise on tv to patients about drugs for illnesses, ins't this the docotrs job to figure out what is best, not he patient asking for a pill? Doctors are given incentives, notepads, clocks, lunches for listeneing to Drug company salesmen, and probably feeling obligated to reciprocate. The result is people go to the doctors office and take another chemical that often just makes people worse and coming back with more side effects, for more drugs. The vicious cycle just goes on.
Then the government and congress, who are lobbied by drug companies figure there is plenty of research going on for a certain illness becuase the drug companies are funding the research. You think the drug companies are interested in finding real cures wherever the cures exist? I doubt it. I think they fund whatever will make them a profit. It is what they are in business to do, don't you think?
SO why are health care costs skyrocketing? there are many chronic illnesses (and maybe even caused by similar mechanims to CFS) that people have. Desperate patients are getting research done with primary care doctors, or specialist office, in a herky-jerky, non-scientific way. Patients and doctors are sick enough of the system that they have taken it apon themselves that they need to find relief and are doing it on a one by one basis in the doctors office. This costs money and is ineffective because the indivaus all have a diffrent situation.
It is not a well designed clinically controlled trial where useful data can be analyzed.
I would like to see what others have to say about ways to reduce health care costs in the United states, while improving treatment, and funding research by non-biased organizations.
So here is the part hard to digest. It is just one proposal, but seems workable in my mind. Albeit probably politcally difficult. One proposal is to put everybody in a single payer health care system. I know, but just try and undertand. Have teams of doctors that quickly diagnose tough and chronic problems like CFS. Work out treatment program that is based on what works, instead of what makes money. So instead of waiting 25 years to get a diagnosis, or never, get one fast for sick people to help them get back in society and make what is left of their lives. This wil savge money. I know I have spent probably over $100k trying to figure out I have CFS. I think it could be done for less. Reduce redundancy and waste. Then use all the real savings (from quick diagnoses, and reduced exprimentation in docotrs office) on funding real cures by universities and real researchers, (other than drug companies). These cures then could come from whereever, and not be biased. Whether it be from vitamins, yoga, sauna, beemers, or herbal plants. We would proabably agree there are many combinations of treatments that may work, but somehow those need to be found and financed. That is the challange.
I would guess that the $2.6 trillion health care cost in US could be cut way down, maybe in half. The $1.3 trillion in savings could be used to cut premiums by 25% and fund research for real cures. You think $800 billion a year, on well designed studies, may help find a few cures???? The rich folks, and other 90% percentile, could by a supplemental insurance if a single payer system wouldn't pay for all the bells and whistles they desire.
JUst some random thoughts on reform. ANy constructive ideas for workable solutions are requested. Maybe we can all get teh ball rolling for lowering health costs and fining cures for disease?
Thanks,
Mark