Co-Directed by Richard Epstein, Mark Ratain, and Mark Siegler

Co-Sponsored by
The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics
The Law School
The Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics
The John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics
The Harris Graduate School for Public Policy Studies

 

Conference Statement

Spending on prescription drugs is the fastest-growing component of health care, and in 2002 accounted for 14% of health care costs. This is partly because prescription drugs have become an increasingly important approach to preventing and treating disease. Moreover, in an aging population with chronic diseases, over 90% of seniors take more than one prescription medicine and those with health insurance are likely to take many more. Finally, for complex reasons, the costs of pharmaceuticals are increasing.

This conference looks at policy questions that affect pharmaceutical manufacturers, patients, and health payers. Speakers will consider questions such as: What factors affect the price and use of pharmaceuticals? are strategies designed to control price and increase access likely to be successful? Is the current model for pharmaceutical development the optimal one?

This conference is the sixth interdisciplinary conference at the University of Chicago co-organized in part my the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, the Law School, and the Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies. It is addressed to physicians, pharmaceutical industry leaders, hospital administrators, legal scholars, health economists, government planners, organizations responsible for health policy, health services researchers, and industry.

 

Acknowledgements

The Conference Directors acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organizations whose encouragement and financial support have made this conference possible: Barry and Mary Ann MacLean and the MacLean Family Foundation, Connie and Dennis Keller and the Keller Family Foundation, Joan and irving Harris and the Irving Harris Foundation, The John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics, Merck and Co. Inc., Pfizer Inc., and PhRMA.