Confronting Quote by Donald Kennedy
“So here's the situation confronting the drug firms: The drugs cost more to make, but they can't charge more for them. What do they do? Increasingly, the U.S. market is driving them toward drugs aimed at the diseases of richer, older Americans and away from antimicrobials, vaccines, and the like.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Pharmaceutical Industry, 2005
Pharma firms face pressure to prioritize profitable markets, shifting away from low‑margin essential drugs like vaccines.
In simple terms: Companies chase profit, neglecting public health needs.
Consider balancing profit with societal benefit.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- healthcare budgeting
- corporate strategy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can incentives be realigned?
- What role should regulation play?
Profit focus can limit innovation for underserved diseases.