[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is worth mentioning that Dr. Simone Gold, who advocates for healthcare reforms, tweeted about the enormous spending by pharmaceutical companies on lobbying, which amounted to $6.14 billion between 1998 and 2024. She wrote in particular about how it affected policies, including the promotion of forced vaccination, the opioid crisis, and the excessive medicalization of society. According to her, these policies indicate the shift of focus towards making money rather than preventing illness.
Dr. Simone Gold tweeted:
“People often ask ‘Why do you still speak about big Pharma?’ They have spent over 6.14 billion from 1998 to 2024 on Lobbying and Where has that gotten us? Government and social media are colluding to hide real information about COVID-19, trying to use force to inject people with new mRNA technology, millions of people addicted to Opiods plus a multi-billion dollar paradigm of treatment instead of prevention. This has to change. Who is with me?”
– Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold), December 16, 2024.
People often ask “why do you still speak about big Pharma?”
The reason being is they have spent over 6.14 billion from 1998-2024 in lobbying efforts and where has that gotten us?
Government and social media collusion suppressing valid information about COVID-19, efforts to…
— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) December 16, 2024
The Numbers say it All: The Strength and Impact of the Drug Lobby
One area worth exploring is the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbying activities. From the year 1998 to 2024, the pharmaceutical industries’ expenditures on lobbying stood at $6.14 billion according to OpenSecrets.org. This huge figure leaves Big Pharma in the first position among all lobbying efforts in the US and lavishes more money than nearly every other sector.
Let us analyze this data more thoroughly:
Between 1998 and 2024, the Pharmaceutical industry and health products industry reportedly recorded a staggering $6.14 billion in spending on lobbying. The pharmaceutical industry has also consistently ranked among the top 5 sectors in terms of lobbying expenditure, being beaten only by defense contractors. The pharmaceutical sector allocated approximately $360 million for lobbying in 2023 alone.
The purpose of these finances is to engage in legislation, shift the public perception, as well as make sure that the pharmaceutical businesses do not get regulated in a manner that would impede their profits. Such numbers suggest that there is a direct relationship between the revenue scale that such industries enjoy and their ability to lobby for favorable health policies.
In a follow-up tweet, Dr. Simone Gold writes:
See for yourself: https://t.co/xq8nDGCCJZ
— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) December 16, 2024
This post encourages users to check out OpenSecrets, a database on lobbying expenditure. Specifically, it allows for monitoring of the spending allocated to lobbying by outlining that the spending made in lobbying is used in the majority of cases to write the laws desirably and then to protect those created ones.
Government and Social Media Collusion: A Detrimental Partnership
Gold’s tweet reveals the role of even government agencies and social media as partners of Big Pharma that was rarely acknowledged. But the collusion meant that critical information about COVID-19 and several other issues was ducked such that the society could not have it. Facebook and Twitter have also been in the spotlight for censoring alternative health perspectives.
A user Theodore Gegoux (@GegouxTheodore) criticizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for running COVID-19 vaccine advertisements during Hallmark Christmas movies:
HHS is running this ad on Hallmark during Christmas movies .. advertising for CoVid vaccine .. please tell me this will stop in Jan .. more wasted tax $. pic.twitter.com/fjGLbXhMQa
— Theodore Gegoux (@GegouxTheodore) December 16, 2024
Public-funded vaccine marketing campaigns were pulled off further diminishing the faith the public had in taking them. This forms the point of wondering what exact capabilities the pharmaceutical firms possess over the government and the economy at large. The public support towards pharmaceutical giants is clear in the response during the lockdown period, mass media post-approvals, and government responses including the vaccine mandates.
Critics argue that the campaigns conducted to release vaccines had their upsides, however, the restrictions on information against what is deemed as the official narrative were a disadvantage as they prevented society from having a proper debate.
Opioid Crisis: A Prescription for Disaster
Gold also talks about the aftermath of the opioid crisis brought about by the drug-pushing practices of the likes of Purdue Pharma manufacturer of OxyContin. In the US alone, about half a million people, according to OxyContin – Purdue Pharma Debunked, died as a result of opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2020, making the pharmaceutical companies liable for the ongoing crisis.
The amount of prescriptions rose dramatically from the year 2012 onwards, giving more power to pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists, as reported by CDC. Despite the research available regarding the addictive nature of these drugs, they were still marketed to patients as a solution to their chronic pain problem.
Harry Fisher’s (@harryfisherEMTP) in his tweet conveys a call to action and solidarity against perceived injustice or wrongdoing:
If we do not stand up against this evil, then we choose to kneel to it. Standing with you.
— Harry Fisher (@harryfisherEMTP) December 16, 2024
Taxpayers have already incurred approximately 8 billion USD as cancer costs on account of the legalities surrounding the cancer crisis and there is a further 100 billion USD involved that remains untold. It is indeed a battle even today as there continue to be hidden battles between political figures and public-driven health campaigns.
Mandatory mRNA Vaccination: A Step Too Far?
Dr. Gold argues the other controversy, the requirement of mRNA vaccination. Vaccines, in general, especially COVID-19 ones have been the center of controversy and the center of attention in ending the pandemic. With the introduction of modern mRNA technology, people are wary of the long-term effects due to the rapid approval.
Furthermore, Dr. Gold, among many other critics, feels that the strategy used by the pharmaceutical companies to promote these vaccines while backed with strong lobbying backing was not only a health measure but also a money-making approach.
Another user, Judy T Starnes (@judytstarnes1), suggests that tackling the influence of Big Pharma should go hand-in-hand with banning lobbying altogether:
while we are working on big pharma, let's make lobbying illegal….it would solve a lot of problems
— judy t starnes (@judytstarnes1) December 16, 2024
Starnes believes that making lobbying illegal would reduce the influence of corporations over health policies, she even suggested increasing the number of legal reforms to restrict lobbying.
Rallying for Change: Dr. Gold’s Call to Action
Dr. Gold’s argument is not simply about seeking new ideas. She has a new idea where she takes almost everything that is then looked at, discusses the strangleholds of Big Pharma on the medical industry, and thinks alternatively. She sees the world in a new light, a different perspective that targets primary health instead of secondary.
Dr. Simone Gold received support from the public in the following tweets:
RetireEarlyLifestyle (@RetireEarlyLife) acknowledges insurance companies capitalist perspective but points to the insurance system as the root of the issue:
Being a Capitalist I struggle with this, but the issue is with the insurance companies. What did our Grandparents do? They went to the local doctor and paid out of pocket. No third party payee. Prices were reasonable, and people were healthy.
— RetireEarlyLifestyle (@RetireEarlyLife) December 16, 2024
Roslyn Curry @RozCurryRN shows her expression of agreement:
I agree 100%!
— Roslyn Curry (@RozCurryRN) December 16, 2024
These replies express the inclination towards the old and straightforward systems of healthcare where the patients do not rely on economical insurance pay coverage and rather pay through money to seek affordable and quality care. A notable number of people believe that today’s systems where insurance and pharmaceutical companies reign supreme, are far too complicated and inefficient.
Is There a Solution?
In the ongoing discussions about ‘Big Pharma’, there are many people who believe that the healthcare system needs to be more clear and accountable. Some people believe that stricter controls on pharmaceutical vote buying will be more beneficial, while others think that the entire nation’s healthcare system needs to be redesigned to maximize prevention focus.
A user, Papa Grande (@Papa Grande57), suggests legislating against Big Pharma:
Absolutely imperative to pass laws to prevent big pharma from lobbying, advertising, or hiring ex government healthcare bureaucracy employees – amend the Constitution if necessary. Other countries have these type of sensible laws/rules.
— Papa Grande (@PapaGrande57) December 16, 2024
This problem needs to be addressed, and that sentiment is further highlighted by Papa Gande’s tweet- action should be taken against Big Pharma, and the control ought to be handed back to the people. Countries such as the UK which have a laxer approach to healthcare could help in serving as test states.
A Growing Movement Against Big Pharma
There have been over $6.14 billion spent in lobbying efforts which showcase how deeply entrenched in us politics — Big Pharma is, however a graying public ire which is apparent in the support shown towards Dr Gold’s stance indicates that change is coming.
A vital discussion Dr. Gold’s tweet has opened is how much space should Big Pharma have in shaping health policies. And with more advocates and the public joining the cause the question remains — will Big Pharma remain Big Pharma or will it introduce a change and will get more transparency?
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Last Updated on by Saket Kumar
