A disease that affects 0.00017% of the world's population - Philosophical Question

bharthi · Aug 31, 2006

Imagine this for a moment : A person who you intensely love has Gaucher disease, a disorder that swells internal organs and weakens bones and ultimately leads to death. There is no treatment for this disease as it is so rare that it affects only 10,000 people in the world (i.e 0.00017% of the world population).

The drug companies are not interested in finding a vaccine for this disease because the market for these drugs is so small. They are busy inventing drugs like Viagra and raking in big profits.

Now, imagine that you are the health minister of India. What would you do about this situation?

Bharthi

Vandhana · Aug 31, 2006

Nice Question!!

Dear Bharati,

Here is my point of view, while every life on this earth is precious, it does not make sense to fund a research to discover a medicine for this disease. There are more lives lost in this world due to simple Protein energy malnutrition and complications associated with this. At the same time I do not advocate the big pharmaceuticals spending big bucks on drugs like Viagra!!

Vandhana

pooja · Aug 31, 2006

Timely!

Vandhana,

You are making an assumption that funding research for this disease means not funding research for protein malnutrition. It doesn't have to be that way. The world should be able to spend money on both the disease and cut wasterful expenditure elsewhere.

Bharthi, I am not sure what would I do if I were the health minister of India, but "The cure" is a book that was recently published that talks to the very nature of your question. A dad whose children had a rare disease (Pompe disease), quit his job, partnered with a scientist and started a company to find a cure for that disease. He ended up finding the cure! Pretty inspiring story.

Kamla · Aug 31, 2006

Appreciate it.

Dear Pooja,

The book and its description sounds awsome. Will keep a look out for this book. Thanks for the suggestion.

L, Kamla

geevee68 · Feb 14, 2009

Re: A disease that affects 0.00017% of the world's population - Philosophical Questio

If i were a health minister i would definitely try to find a cure for most of the diseases.After all,a human life is very precious.
I will go to all the branches of medicine like allopathy,homeo,ayurveda etc etc.India is a store house of various journals on medicine like Astaangahridayam,Charaka samhita etc etc.
There are a variety of diseases known & unknown to mankind.