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Comment by Beijinger | Hacker News Reader

"Let's be honest, the majority of prescription drugs don't have an abuse risk."

It is absolutely disgusting, that you need a prescription for pharmacy items. There is nothing better than going into a pharmacy and just being able to buy what you need. Never had any problems in Colombia, Brazil, Russia and rarely in China.

What about people without health insurance?

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  > What about people without health insurance?

Are you suggesting that these people do not see doctors and self-diagnose? I could see an argument that making the drugs OTC without prescription may do this population more harm than good.

That's a good point, but honestly I don't know what the net effect would be.

Remember that in the US, drug companies market to patients, even though it's the doctor that must prescribe the medication. In other countries, this is illegal.

Maybe the barrier of a doctor's visit is not so relevant. Or, maybe it's what prevents things from becoming completely unhinged...

> in the US, drug companies market to patients

Really? Why?

In some sense, they are a company like any other, why restrict their ability to advertise?

Then again, its not exactly good intentions that got us here.

Opioid epidemic

In the US there is advertisement for drugs. You have symptoms XYZ? You might have disease A. We can help. Talk to your doctor for medication B.

In many countries, this is forbidden.

It's easier to say "talk to your doctor about X" than get attractive pharmaceutical sales reps to convince doctors about the same drug's efficacy with a pamphlet.

There's a gradient. There's definitely a number of things that are prescription only for... unknown reasons. My low dose statin requires a prescription, even though I can get roughly 4 months worth of it at a time. Even its side effects are not extreme. But it forces me to interact with my doctor occasionally just to get a repeat.

"Are you suggesting that these people do not see doctors and self-diagnose? "

Ah. Yes. What is the alternative if you can't afford a doctor?

" I could see an argument that making the drugs OTC without prescription may do this population more harm than good."

Please die for the greater good. I pass.

I have no idea what other people need. Beta blocker? Metformin? For a start, I would like to have every cortisone based product (cream, tablets) OTC and antibotics too.

In some countries, you can't even buy an antibiotic cream or hydrocortisone cream OTC. In Brazil, I was damn happy that once I could get antibiotic eye drops and once an antibiotic for the ear (drops).

Hey, in many countries you can even buy Viagra OTC. A buddy asked me to bring some for him from abroad.

> Are you suggesting that these people do not see doctors and self-diagnose?

Yes! Over-regulation cost lives. See Canada, people dying because can't see doctors. Most of prescription drugs are gatekeeper for no reason, they are not 'drugs' there is no reason for that.

Meanwhile typical Montreal health-care interaction:

1. Call your doctor - next appointment in 1-3-6 month

2. Wait till it get bad enough, go to emergency room.

3. Wait and cry there for 6-12 hours, get morphine, see a specialist, get a prescription, go home.

Since my conditions are chronical I should be able to get my meds easily, but nooooo, let's gatekeep everything and make people suffer and die.

See https://globalnews.ca/news/10148872/quebec-er-patients-death... for proofs.

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