By Eugenio Fernández for the Canary Islands-semanal.org.-
Although his voice does not occupy holders, the Dr. Laporte Regional Joan, Pharmacologist y Emeritus Professor of the University of Barcelonaoffers one of the most lucid, documented and brave criticisms about the contemporary health system. His book Chronicle of an intoxicated society It is not a sensationalist complaint, but a rigorous analysis that focuses on a silent epidemic: excessive medicalization of the population, with dire consequences on the health and life of thousands of people. ORn detailed diagnosis of how public health has been captured by the economic interests of the pharmaceutical industry, with the complicity of the State and the passivity of the medical body.
Starting from a knowledge and the accumulated experience during a lifetime dedicated to his profession, Laporte examine how public health It has been subordinated to the economic interests of the pharmaceutical industry. Doctors conditioned by the Private financing, prescribed drugs without need, regulatory agencies co -opted for private interests and an absent or accomplice state configure the portrait of A deeply sick system.
The disease market: when health is sold as merchandise
Laporte Do not go with rodeos. The pharmaceutical industry acts like any other capitalist company, oriented exclusively to obtaining benefits. This, “says the doctor -is the only expected. The biggest problem is that the State which has allowed these commercial interests to prevail over the health of the population. Thus, a system has been built where laboratories influence not only what is prescribed, but also en what is considered a disease, in How the public is informed and in The laws that govern health.
For decades, the industry has financed medical training, He has sponsored congresses, has given trips, and has used sophisticated marketing strategies to convert health professionals into promoting agents of their products. And he has done it legally. Since 2016, income in “species” That doctors receive from laboratories are not considered taxable rent, that is, they do not pay taxes for them. This legal framework not only legitimizes a conflict of interest, but institutionalizes the subordination of medical knowledge to the logic of profit.
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Of medicine to automatism: prescription by spinal reflex
One of the most disturbing concepts mentioned by Laporte It is the “prescription by spinal reflex”. This refers to the automation of the act of prescribing: The doctor no longer fully evaluates the patient’s situation, nor analyzes whether a medicine is truly necessary, if the dose is adequate or if there is a risk of interaction with other drugs. Simply recipe as a reflection act, pushed by clinical guides promoted by the industry and a deformed formation.
And is that – according to complaint Joan-Ramón Laporto- more than 80% of primary care doctors acceptdirectly or indirectly, gifts or incentives of the pharmaceutical industry. This dependence, far from being anecdotal, shaps everyday clinical practice. The result is a medicine that is based more on Diagnostic labels (High cholesterol, insomnia, prehipertension) than in real people with complex contexts. The hypocratic principle of “First not harm”and has been replaced by An imperative prescription.
Polymedication and vicious circles: the eternal patient
Overmedication not only does not cure, but sick. In Spain, almost the Half of people over 65 takes five or more medications a day. And the most alarming: there is no evidence that this improves its general health status. On the contrary, the combination of drugs – many of them unnecessary – generates dangerous interactions, serious adverse effects and new symptoms that lead to prescribe even more medications. It is a vicious circle, a progressive poisoning loop.
He Dr. Laporte warns that mUchos cases of diseases such as Parkinson, Diabetes or even Alzheimer can be induced by Common medications. Las statinsfor example, used To lower cholesterol, they cause diabetes in one in ten cases. The benzodiazepines, prescribed for him insomnia, they can generate symptoms of dementia If consumed long. The patient not only does not improve, but accumulates diagnostic labels and treatments that are feedback in a spiral of deterioration.
One of the most forceful statements of Dr. Laporte is that medications are already One of the main causes of death in Spain. It is estimated that At least 18,000 people die every year in hospitals as Direct consequence of drugs. This figure greatly exceeds deaths from diseases such as Alzheimer or the COPD, and it is far superior to those caused by traffic accidents. However, this information does not occupy covers or causes media alarms.
And it is not just a medical problem, but political. Laporte denounces the “Active disinterest” of the health system to count and make visible these deaths. The iatrogenia (damage caused by medicine) It is the great taboo of the system, because it questions the legitimacy of the current model. Yes 50% of medications That they are prescribed are not necessary, then half of the adverse effects, and probably of deaths, could have been avoided.
THE STATES – Dr. Laporte –They act like facilitators of the interests of pharmaceutical capital. Las regulatory agencies, like the Spanish Agency or the European Medication Agencyare crossed by conflicts of interest, rotating doors and opacity. Legislators and political parties are also in the orbit of the industry, which finances legislative campaigns and agendas.
During the pandemic of COVID-19this collusion reached its maximum expression. The media acted as pharmaceutical speakers, critical voices were silenced and a unique narrative was imposed on the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, without admitting the scientific discussion or plurality of approaches. The fear campaigns and the pathologization of daily life further expanded the medicine market.
For him Dr. Laportethe only possible exit is a social reappropriation of health. This implies establishing a public network of independent information about medicines, demerging medical training, and reconstructing a medical-patient relationship based on dialogue and trust but also, ultimately, that the Capital accumulation field. We need a system that puts life and care in the center, and not the balances of large corporations.
