Would you pay over 2 million for a single dose of a drug?

The answer is of course you would, because you have to. Novartis has a patent on the drug, they want 2.2 million dollars for a single dose, so that's the only way to get the drug for your sick child. 

Medical cost-benefit number crunchers think that 2.2 million is a good deal because the drug Zolgensma treats a genetic condition. One dose might alter a child's life. Only about 400 kids in the U.S. have the condition, so they need to charge a lot. 

But if you think about it, 400 kids at 2.2 million is over 800 million dollars a year from the U. S. market alone. When you price human life at priceless, of course it's worth it. But should they be charging that much? 

Even the company itself recognizes the obscene profits they are getting might raise eyebrows in our jaded world. So they "will give partial rebates if the treatment doesn't work." Wait, what? If these parents have a sick child that isn't helped, you'll refund some of their money? 

I like this idea, and I think it should become part of medical culture. Not partial refunds, full refunds. If a drug doesn't work, full refund. It won't help with the Titanic that is our health care system, but it will help those individuals who have both crippling disease and crippling debt. Yes, drug companies that fail to help people will bear the burden, but if you think about it for a moment, that's what happens in any other business. If you sell cars that don't work, you don't get to keep the money. Why should it be different for people? 

Ah, but what will help the Titanic? Well, that's a bit more complicated. Or not. See the doodle below for my daily ritual.