NOW on PBS Season 4 Episode 21 Gambling With Health Care

Gambling With Health Care is an episode of NOW on PBS, which takes a look at the current state of health care in America, specifically the gambling that takes place within the pharmaceutical industry. The episode explores the high cost of drugs, the impact of patents on prices, and the risks patients take when they rely on medicine to stay healthy.

The episode begins by exploring the story of one patient, Steven Pearson. Pearson was diagnosed with a rare blood disease and needed a specific medication to stay alive. However, the drug manufacturer raised the price of the medication from $1,000 per dose to $100,000 per dose. Pearson couldn't afford the new price, so he started his own company to produce a generic version of the drug at a lower cost. This move ultimately saved his own life, as well as the lives of countless others who couldn't afford the expensive medication.

From there, the episode takes a look at how drug prices are set in America. It's revealed that the high cost of drugs is largely due to the fact that pharmaceutical companies are able to extend their patents for decades. This means that there is little competition in the market, allowing manufacturers to charge exorbitant prices for their products. The episode also explores the lobbying power of the pharmaceutical industry and how they've been able to prevent the government from stepping in to regulate drug prices.

The gambling aspect comes in as the episode examines how patients are taking risks with their health by relying on expensive medications. Patients who can't afford to pay for their prescriptions are often forced to make difficult decisions, such as choosing between paying for food and paying for medication. The episode also explores how some patients are turning to other countries to buy their medicine, which can be risky since there's no guarantee of the quality of the product.

Towards the end of the episode, the focus shifts to potential solutions for the high cost of drugs. Some are advocating for a single-payer healthcare system, while others are calling for more government regulation of drug prices. The episode concludes by stressing the importance of patients advocating for themselves and speaking out against high drug prices.

Overall, Gambling With Health Care is a thought-provoking episode of NOW on PBS that sheds light on an important issue facing Americans today. The episode does an excellent job of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner while also highlighting the human impact of the high cost of drugs. Viewers will come away from this episode with a better understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the need for change.