Review of What is your health worth?
Posted: 13 Jul 2024, 09:50
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "What is your health worth?" by Grant Kane.]
What Is Your Health Worth by Grant Kane is a short book that explores the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on the healthcare market. Kane shows us how companies manipulate drug prices and market monopolies, aiming to enlighten and empower the average American consumer. The book is split into five short chapters that can be read in one sitting.
In the first chapter, Kane's analysis begins by revealing various brand names for the same drug, like Motrin, Advil, and Ibuprofen. He explains that while these names differ, the active ingredient (its chemical composition) remains the same, with price being the only difference. This insight introduces us to how brand and generic names are assigned, revealing the commercial strategies behind drug marketing.
The second chapter, "Life Comes at a Price," examines the ridiculously high costs of medication in the United States. For example, Kane illustrates this with Sovaldi, a Hepatitis C drug costing $84,000 for a three-month treatment. He attributes high prices to the lack of a centralized negotiating body in the U.S., unlike other developed countries, and the influence of lobbyists who benefit from inflated costs. This chapter shows how medication affects the wallets of average citizens, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible and affordable healthcare.
In the third chapter, Kane shows us the rise of "weight loss miracle drugs" like Ozempic and Wegovy, which share the same active ingredient, semaglutide. The author explains how these drugs, initially for type 2 diabetes, gained popularity for weight loss due to their effectiveness. He also highlights the significant price disparities and the role of marketing in sustaining high costs, despite the medication’s low production costs.
The fourth chapter, "Unveiling the Game of Pharmaceutical Profits," discusses other drugs like Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zepbound and Mounjaro, which contain tirzepatide. He points out the strategic use of different names and prices for the same medication to create an illusion of choice. Kane cautions us about the profit-driven motives behind pharmaceutical innovations.
The final chapter, "From Awareness to Action: Strategies for Affordable Healthcare," offers practical steps for consumers to combat high drug prices. Kane encourages readers to contact local representatives, engage with regulatory authorities, join advocacy groups, boycott overpriced products, and spread awareness about the price differences between brand-name and generic drugs.
I like that the book brings awareness about brand-name and generic drugs, which can save readers who live in the U.S. money. Readers will want to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry and its dubious practices.
I deducted a star, however, because the book did not have citations or a further reading list to do a deeper dive into the subject. The book mentions popular and reliable sources, such as “The New York Times,” “Reuters,” “Bloomberg,” and “Forbes.” However, the lack of direct quotes and citations gives the book less credibility. Despite my criticism, I had no further dislikes. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book specifically to people who live in the United States. However, readers who want to learn how the pharmaceutical industry works may also enjoy it.
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What is your health worth?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
What Is Your Health Worth by Grant Kane is a short book that explores the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on the healthcare market. Kane shows us how companies manipulate drug prices and market monopolies, aiming to enlighten and empower the average American consumer. The book is split into five short chapters that can be read in one sitting.
In the first chapter, Kane's analysis begins by revealing various brand names for the same drug, like Motrin, Advil, and Ibuprofen. He explains that while these names differ, the active ingredient (its chemical composition) remains the same, with price being the only difference. This insight introduces us to how brand and generic names are assigned, revealing the commercial strategies behind drug marketing.
The second chapter, "Life Comes at a Price," examines the ridiculously high costs of medication in the United States. For example, Kane illustrates this with Sovaldi, a Hepatitis C drug costing $84,000 for a three-month treatment. He attributes high prices to the lack of a centralized negotiating body in the U.S., unlike other developed countries, and the influence of lobbyists who benefit from inflated costs. This chapter shows how medication affects the wallets of average citizens, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible and affordable healthcare.
In the third chapter, Kane shows us the rise of "weight loss miracle drugs" like Ozempic and Wegovy, which share the same active ingredient, semaglutide. The author explains how these drugs, initially for type 2 diabetes, gained popularity for weight loss due to their effectiveness. He also highlights the significant price disparities and the role of marketing in sustaining high costs, despite the medication’s low production costs.
The fourth chapter, "Unveiling the Game of Pharmaceutical Profits," discusses other drugs like Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zepbound and Mounjaro, which contain tirzepatide. He points out the strategic use of different names and prices for the same medication to create an illusion of choice. Kane cautions us about the profit-driven motives behind pharmaceutical innovations.
The final chapter, "From Awareness to Action: Strategies for Affordable Healthcare," offers practical steps for consumers to combat high drug prices. Kane encourages readers to contact local representatives, engage with regulatory authorities, join advocacy groups, boycott overpriced products, and spread awareness about the price differences between brand-name and generic drugs.
I like that the book brings awareness about brand-name and generic drugs, which can save readers who live in the U.S. money. Readers will want to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry and its dubious practices.
I deducted a star, however, because the book did not have citations or a further reading list to do a deeper dive into the subject. The book mentions popular and reliable sources, such as “The New York Times,” “Reuters,” “Bloomberg,” and “Forbes.” However, the lack of direct quotes and citations gives the book less credibility. Despite my criticism, I had no further dislikes. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book specifically to people who live in the United States. However, readers who want to learn how the pharmaceutical industry works may also enjoy it.
******
What is your health worth?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon