Imagine a medicine that costs…
€70,000 for a single patient.
Sounds outrageous?
Well…
The debate isn’t just about the price.
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One of France’s most expensive cancer treatments is once again under scrutiny as health authorities question whether its cost is sustainable for the healthcare system.
At around €70,000 per patient, it’s among the biggest expenses covered by the French national health insurance.
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But the pharmaceutical company has a different argument.
Yes, the treatment is expensive.
But by helping patients survive longer and return to normal life…
It reduces productivity losses, allows people to work again, support their families and continue contributing to the economy.
In other words…
The company argues that the medicine creates value beyond the hospital.
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This raises a difficult question.
Should the value of a medicine be measured only by its price…
Or by the lives it saves?
Because while the upfront cost is enormous…
The long-term economic and social benefits may also be significant.
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Healthcare systems around the world are facing the same dilemma.
As new cancer treatments become more advanced…
They’re also becoming more expensive.
The challenge is finding the balance between encouraging medical innovation and keeping healthcare affordable for everyone.
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At the end of the day…
This isn’t just a debate about money.
It’s a debate about how we value a human life.
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But here’s the real question…
If a treatment costing €70,000 could save a life and help someone return to work… would you consider it too expensive, or worth every euro?
