The introduction of prescription drug price control systems in the United States, modeled on those adopted in Europe, could generate modest savings and stifle medical innovation and even shorten the life expectancy of Americans. This is the assessment that emerges from two studies conducted by the non-profit organization Rand Corporation, published in 'Health Affairs' online. According to experts, a better policy for the US government could be to reduce or abolish co-pays for medicines to improve public health and encourage innovation. Researchers have created the first economic model to predict the potential impact of Europe's drug price regulation system in the United States, assuming a 20% company revenue cut. The scholars have found that if the European method had been introduced in the USA in 2005, the savings for the purchase of drugs during the life of citizens between the ages of 55 and 59 would be 9,000 dollars in 2010 and 14,400 in 2060. It was then highlighted that the lower profits of pharmaceutical companies would discourage investment in research, slowing down the development of new medicines and shortening the life expectancy of Americans. For example, for Americans aged 55-59, in 2010 this expectation would decrease by a tenth a year, with a reduction of 0.7 years by 2060. With the reduction in the co-payment of 20% drugs, life expectancy would instead increase by 0.5 years by 2060.
Source: http://www.sanitanews.it/quotidiano/intarticolo.php?id=1922&sendid=449
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