FHC #110: Diving deep into drug-pricing wizardry and deep learning (AI)
Oct 25, 2023
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In this episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the deceptive tactics used by drug companies to justify high prices and the impact on patient care. They also explore the transformative potential of generative AI in healthcare and its ability to democratize medical knowledge. AI tools like ChatGPT are expected to radically change healthcare, empower patients, and redefine the doctor-patient relationship. Find out more in this intriguing episode.
The US biopharmaceutical industry uses deceptive tactics to maintain high drug prices, leading to massive profits and hindering affordable healthcare for Americans.
Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by democratizing medical knowledge, surpassing doctors' accuracy, and empowering patients.
Deep dives
The Illusion of Drug Company Pricing
The podcast episode explores the deceptive tactics used by the US biopharmaceutical industry in response to the possibility of lower drug prices. It reveals that exorbitant pricing is the industry's primary strategy, leading to massive profits. Lower prices would not hinder drug discovery or patient care as claimed. The profitability of drug companies is largely driven by corporate profits, not research and development. The legislation to reduce drug prices would greatly benefit patients and reduce the federal deficit.
Debunking the Myths of Pharmaceutical Pricing
The podcast addresses the myths propagated by the pharmaceutical industry to maintain high drug prices. It highlights that the overwhelming majority of high drug prices contribute to corporate profits, not research and development. Independent research shows that the impact of price restraints on drug discovery is minimal. The industry's focus on hypothetical future lives lost obscures the current reality of exorbitant prices causing harm and unaffordability for many Americans.
The Transformational Potential of Generative AI in Healthcare
The podcast discusses the transformative role of generative AI in healthcare. It distinguishes generative AI from previous generations of AI, highlighting its ability to democratize medical knowledge and expertise. Generative AI tools have shown potential in surpassing doctors' accuracy in diagnostics and treatment plans. With exponential growth, generative AI could empower individuals to access medical expertise and revolutionize the doctor-patient relationship. The podcast emphasizes the opportunities for improvement in healthcare outcomes and patient empowerment that generative AI presents.
Like magicians, the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry has used diversion to distract the public’s attention away from where the real action is really happening. This Fixing Healthcare episode of Diving Deep begins with a look at three illusions drug companies have crafted to maintain massive profitability and keep Americans from seeing important truths about pharma pricing, innovation and regulation.
Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr then focus on the future of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Despite 20-plus years of hype, AI’s impact on medical practice has been negligible thus far. But Pearl believes the next generation of AI is unlike any technology that has come before. The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 marked the dawn of a new era in medicine. Pearl says that, in time, generative AI tools will “radically change healthcare, empower patients and redefine the doctor-patient relationship.”
Learn more about these two topics in today’s episode of Fixing Healthcare. Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.
Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.