The 90/10 theory
This is a lil theory that pertains to biological research around the world, and the funding issues that come along with it.
90% of the money put into medical research by the United States goes towards curing diseases that affect 10% of the worlds population.
I always knew there was a skew, but I never realised it was this bad.. Diseases like cancer, parkinsons, and alzheimers... mostly ailments of middle to upper class caucasians who can afford treatment. On the other hand, diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, which are predominantly diseases of the third world, affect the people who cannot afford expensive drugs and treatment. As a consequence, pharmacological companies often look at these treatments as a waste of resourses, and as a consequence, very little is being done to solve them.
Its shocking to know there are so many educated people out there who believe that tuberculosis has been eradicated.
Even worse than this is the fact that more money is being put into developing treatments to prevent balding and skin wrinkling than all infectious diseases put together..
Its a cruel world we live in.
90% of the money put into medical research by the United States goes towards curing diseases that affect 10% of the worlds population.
I always knew there was a skew, but I never realised it was this bad.. Diseases like cancer, parkinsons, and alzheimers... mostly ailments of middle to upper class caucasians who can afford treatment. On the other hand, diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, which are predominantly diseases of the third world, affect the people who cannot afford expensive drugs and treatment. As a consequence, pharmacological companies often look at these treatments as a waste of resourses, and as a consequence, very little is being done to solve them.
Its shocking to know there are so many educated people out there who believe that tuberculosis has been eradicated.
Even worse than this is the fact that more money is being put into developing treatments to prevent balding and skin wrinkling than all infectious diseases put together..
Its a cruel world we live in.
posted by Hamlet at 1:34 PM
2 Comments:
it sure is. all stuff medical makes you think of curing and helping the sick selflessly, but it is as much about the money as anything else. but what little a difference we can make, let's.
True! I have heard this first hand from a Pharma Big Boss at a TB meeting!
Depressing and outrageous at the same time!
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