Comment by frgtpsswrdlame

We just need shorter patents. For example drug companies spend far more on marketing than they do on R&D and a substantial amount of the research that generates new drugs comes from government funded research (>50%). Also, it's been demonstrated that taxpayer funded research drives private R&D up. So if I was dictator, I'd make it illegal to advertise drugs on tv/radio/web, double the current government budget for drug development R&D and make medical patents expire much more quickly. (And maybe something to allow Americans to buy drugs from overseas markets? Not sure on that one yet)