Illegal To Do What Makes Sense

Called another major compounding pharmacy yesterday and discussed options with them.  I was shocked to learn that it is illegal for them to create a prescription for someone if it competes with a commercial product in the market -- even for generic medications.  It is illegal for them to put a properly prescribed dose of life-saving epinephrine in a syringe ready-to-go and dispense it to a patient because there is a commercial product in the market that has the same dose of epinephrine in it.  !?!?

I can understand the rationale for making sure products are monitored and are of consistent high quality.  But this situation is far from one of protecting people.  In essence, the FDA is keeping reasonable, affordable solutions out of the hands of patients that need them to not die.  Unless patients pay extortionist prices that are the envy of the mafia.

In case we haven't really been thinking about what is actually happening, when people talk about the "market" taking care of itself and these are just market forces, it is a scam.  This is not a functioning marketplace.  This is monopolistic extortion and hostage-taking.  What would a real marketplace look like?  There would be multiple reasonable choices that encourage quality and limit cost.  Obviously we don't have that.  Don't let anyone sell you that bill of goods ever again about the pharmaceutical industry and the "marketplace" in America.