Big Pharma & The High Price of Health: Making Ethical Choices

I am sure many have heard of the “conspiracy theories” of Big Pharma being notorious for concealing information and manipulating data, but this broken reputation has a base, and although it may not necessarily be installing microchips through covid vaccines, it is still something that clearly doesn’t align with our personal well-being.

Salaaz consistently highlights the recurring dilemma of profits overriding ethical considerations. Pharmaceutical companies serve as a prime example of how profit can compromise health. Here are some scary highlights on some of the most notorious Big Pharma ethical dilemmas. 

• Excessive Price Jacking: Insulin costs less than $10 to produce and is sold for affordable prices in other countries, but Eli Lilly and Co. sells it for over a hundred dollars per vial in North America. The high prices of insulin have even led to death. Other vital amenities, such as the EpiPen, rose from $57 in 2007 to over $600 a decade later. 

• Price Control: To keep costs extremely high for profit, companies prevent generics, which are affordable replicas. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, life-saving treatments cost over $10,000 per patient annually. Pharmaceutical giants even sued South Africa for trying to import affordable generics that brought them down to under $100/year. These tactics keep prices high while patients suffer.

• Unethical Marketing: Purdue Pharma pushed OxyContin as “non-addictive,” igniting the opioid crisis. Meanwhile, companies spend billions and persuade doctors towards prescriptions and overuse of medication. 

• Lobbying Agenda: Pharmaceutical companies spend billions on pushing the governments towards their incentives, which aren't always for the benefits of patients' health. For example, pharma lobbying blocked Medicare, the U.S. public health insurance for seniors, from negotiating drug prices.

With these excessive means used by pharmaceutical companies to keep profits rolling, your ethics are on the line. Asking for generic and biosimilar prescriptions from your doctor can allow for a reduced and affordable option that counters pricing dilemmas. 

Breaking the Chain: Affordable Medicine and Natural Alternatives

Most doctors are trained heavily in pharmaceuticals and surgery, not nutrition or herbal medicine. Luckily, with some research, there are many health conditions that can be improved by natural remedies. 

Here is a list of these natural remedies: 

• Honey: A natural alternative to cough syrup.

• Ashwagandha: An adaptogen that lowers cortisol (stress hormone).

• Valerian Root: Calming, often used for sleep and mild anxiety.

• Chamomile: Tea or capsules for relaxation and mild stress.

• Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory, especially for arthritis.

• Lion’s Mane Mushroom: Supports nerve growth and cognitive resilience.

• Cinnamon: Improves insulin sensitivity.

• Berberine: A plant compound that lowers blood sugar.

• Fenugreek: Helps regulate blood sugar and digestion

Although herbal remedies cannot be used as replacements for real medical prescriptions, they can provide relief, improve health, and cause long-term benefits. An effective approach is often integrative medicine: combining both when needed. For example, someone with high blood pressure may start with medications for immediate safety, then add herbs and lifestyle changes to possibly reduce or stop them later.

Supporting Local Natural Medicine

The traceability of natural products is crucial for purity, and buying from cheap marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay may include additives, chemicals, and contaminated products. Here are local options that will ensure freshness and health. 

Rebel Roots Farm

This local farm in Grey County, Ontario, specializes in medicinal herbs and sells organic options for affordable pricing. 

Foggy River Farm

This small-scale regenerative herbal farm in Uxbridge, Ontario, has various affordable and deliverable options for tea blends, single herbs, seasonings, and more. 

Health is too important to be shaped by profits alone. Healthcare should never be exploited at the cost of people's well-being, and what we are seeing today must change for the better. Choosing generics, exploring safe natural options, and supporting ethical practices helps put well-being first.