This is a sequel to my last article, It’s Sauna Time. That essay was a positive statement regarding saunas. I’m into saunas. I try to go to the Southlake YMCA at least every other day. I sit in the dry sauna for 30-35 minutes with a temperature of around 180 degrees. I’m the oldest one that I have ever seen there. On average, most of my fellow sauna worshippers are men between 25-35, and they are all in excellent shape. Most of the gals are in that same age range. The rest, including me, need to lose some weight. Now, saunas will cause you to lose some weight, but it is merely water. You sweat a great deal sitting there. While in the saunas, some friends will chat, but most of the time, the sauna worshippers sit focused on their iPhones.

This essay deals with med time on TV. And, to get all my venting out first, this time of the year, I am irked by all the inane commercials for the best supplemental plan for Medicare Part C. Each plan has a similar noisy, in-your-face message. While I hate listening to stupid advertisements, they will go on for a few more weeks and disappear until next year.

What concerns me are pharma companies advertizing specialty drugs, usually shots. There are several concerns about these drugs. They are advertising these drugs for significant medical issues. Pharma companies have dancers, large happy marches, and boxing women who take their particular drug. These are three samples of these TV ads.

I missed how the drug advertising with dancing people benefitted from a particular drug. The pharma companies are talking to potential consumers. If the drug works, I would think that doctors who treat a particular medical problem are more aware of that drug and whether or not a particular patient would benefit from it.

I have been using one of the drugs that is advertised on TV. I have been given this drug at no charge for several years due to being retired and on a fixed income. However, I’m being dropped from that company in 2025. Either I find out whether the federal government will cover a $5-7,000 monthly cost, or I will pay out of pocket for it. To make matters worse, these companies will spend around $8.49 billion this year on TV ads. They could use that money to assist those who can’t afford their shots or pills. My annual cost would be $60-84,000. I’d call that price gouging.

I take a half-dozen prescription meds as an octogenarian. Things like drops for my eyes or pills for my blood pressure. However, I take two prescriptions that are tier-two drugs. With insurance, one costs $150 for a ninety-day supply. All my meds work, but the cost, even with insurance, is a lot of money annually.

America and New Zealand are the only countries allowing pharmaceutical companies to advertise on TV. So, pharma companies seem more interested in making money than in making people healthy in America and New Zealand. Ethically and morally, that poses significant problems.

America’s pharmaceutical companies irk me. However, what are they doing with the rest of the countries of the world? Nearly half of humankind, around 3.5 billion people, live on less than $7.00 daily. How many people in those developing countries regularly see a dentist, primary care physician, cardiologist, dermatologist, eye doctor, or other types of medical doctors?

If pharma companies are in business to help people with medical problems, one would think they would assist those trying to survive on $7.00 daily. When it comes to med time, we all need to grasp my mantra: It is in giving that we get.

This addendum is about RFK, jr. and his thoughts about pharma. His father was my mentor for all my adult life. However, there is not much that his son parallels his father. This is one example.