Took a huge step today and quit my job. 8+ years working in the Pharmaceutical industry was soul-crushing and put me in very bad health, mentally and physically. I feel 100 lbs lighter.
No offense to my pharma cohorts but everyday I felt more unethical and immoral working for an industry that capitalizes on the health of all of us. My company raised the price of insulin 3 times in the past year and a half. Why? No reason except more profit. I saw people, mostly elderly, who could not afford their insulin because the price kept going higher and higher.
It really hit me hard when an elderly woman walked up to me in a doctor's office, crying. She saw my name tag and my product, which was insulin. She told me her husband was on a high dose of insulin but he had hit the Medicare "Donut Hole" and could no longer afford his insulin. She tried everything from applying for my company's assistance program to using nothing but samples we provide to the doctor. She begged me to do something. All I could say was that I was sorry and there was nothing I could do for her. She asked me why the price went up on my product and I told her I didn't know. She started to sob and walked away. I walked out of the office and to my car and I started to cry myself. I've never felt so helpless.
What do you do when your job actually keeps people from living? It's a terrible, greedy industry. Don't believe the commercials and don't, for gods sake, don't ever, ever feel sorry for a pharmaceutical company that loses profits or has to pay a billion dollar fine.
Trust me they, along with the insurance companies, are ripping you off. Insurance companies won't pay for a pen of insulin but they will cover the same product in a vile?? Pens are by far the easiest to use and more convenient. It doesn't make sense.
I apologize to all of you. I'm sorry for working for an industry that profits from your diseases and I'm sorry for adding to the hardship and frustration of preventing you from getting the treatment you need.
If you don't think universal healthcare is an answer, work in pharmaceuticals for a DAY and you will change your mind.
No offense to my pharma cohorts but everyday I felt more unethical and immoral working for an industry that capitalizes on the health of all of us. My company raised the price of insulin 3 times in the past year and a half. Why? No reason except more profit. I saw people, mostly elderly, who could not afford their insulin because the price kept going higher and higher.
It really hit me hard when an elderly woman walked up to me in a doctor's office, crying. She saw my name tag and my product, which was insulin. She told me her husband was on a high dose of insulin but he had hit the Medicare "Donut Hole" and could no longer afford his insulin. She tried everything from applying for my company's assistance program to using nothing but samples we provide to the doctor. She begged me to do something. All I could say was that I was sorry and there was nothing I could do for her. She asked me why the price went up on my product and I told her I didn't know. She started to sob and walked away. I walked out of the office and to my car and I started to cry myself. I've never felt so helpless.
What do you do when your job actually keeps people from living? It's a terrible, greedy industry. Don't believe the commercials and don't, for gods sake, don't ever, ever feel sorry for a pharmaceutical company that loses profits or has to pay a billion dollar fine.
Trust me they, along with the insurance companies, are ripping you off. Insurance companies won't pay for a pen of insulin but they will cover the same product in a vile?? Pens are by far the easiest to use and more convenient. It doesn't make sense.
I apologize to all of you. I'm sorry for working for an industry that profits from your diseases and I'm sorry for adding to the hardship and frustration of preventing you from getting the treatment you need.
If you don't think universal healthcare is an answer, work in pharmaceuticals for a DAY and you will change your mind.