[wisty]

In Australia, most people have to pay for drugs. There are subsidies available. If a drug company wants the subsidy, it has to offer a fair price. If they don't offer a fair price, then they don't get subsidized, and nobody buys it.

So, patients pay (a bit), so they avoid unnecessary treatment. But they don't have to pay to much. And if the drug companies try to play funny-buggers, they get shut out.

Also, the subsidy process is completely hands-off (it's run by an untouchable board of experts), so while it's a little inefficient (untouchable experts are always inefficient) it's incorruptible.

[anamax]

> Also, the subsidy process is completely hands-off (it's run by an untouchable board of experts), so while it's a little inefficient (untouchable experts are always inefficient) it's incorruptible.

If they're actually incorruptible, that process can not be used in the US.

Disagree? Then produce a couple of incorruptible groups of experts with comparable powers in related areas.

Hope is not a plan.

As far as the US is concerned, it doesn't matter what works elsewhere, what matters is what will work here.