This year’s Health Care Symposium will focus on the rising costs of pharmaceuticals, the drivers behind these costs, and physicians’ roles in this aspect of health care. Modern pharmaceuticals offer innovative treatments for a broad range of diseases, but these advances come at a steep price. Americans spent $164 billion on prescription drugs in 2002, an increase of 15% from the previous year.

Why do Americans spend so much on prescription drugs? Potential factors that will be considered are economic (the introduction of new drugs—whether “breakthrough”, “me-too products”, or safer and more effective versions of older drugs), demographic (aging population), and social factors (“medicalization” of conditions like shyness), as well as pharmaceutical promotional/marketing efforts.

We hope that you will join us on February 12, 2005 for the 9th Annual UCLA Health Care Symposium, "Pills, Profits and Politics: Drivers of Rising Drug Costs and Strategies for Maximizing Value." As space may be limited, please register online soon.