Germany has always been at the forefront when it comes to compulsory vaccination. However, this dependence on pharmaceuticals in the Federal Republic is by no means a corona phenomenon: Germany is – contrary to its population – the fourth largest pharmaceutical market in the world. The drug consumption of the citizens has been rising steadily for years and the industry cashes in heavily. It is not about the health of the citizens, because the mass of medicines harbors considerable risks.
Doctors in Germany are extremely keen on prescribing: According to current media reports, the per capita consumption of medicines rose by an impressive 20 percent between 2010 and 2020. In 2010 every German took an average of 1.2 medications per day (1,200 daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants), by 2020 it was already more than 1.5 medications per day.
The consumption of medicines has risen sharply, especially among older people. Half of the patients over the age of 65 take medicines that are associated with particular risks and, according to the PRISCUS list, increase the risk of hospitalization. In addition, many people swallow multiple medicines at the same time, which carries a high risk of dangerous interactions that are rarely communicated.
Unfortunately, the so-called pandemic not only showed how uncritical and venal a majority of German doctors are: it also showed that a significant proportion of citizens do not question what exactly they are actually putting into their bodies with medicines (and vaccines). If an individual “god in white” recommends a preparation, it is taken. Only when problems arise does one or the other wake up.
Millions of medical emergencies due to side effects, tens of thousands of deaths
The media has always been surprisingly quiet on this topic. Over the years, individual commendable reports have warned against excessive drug consumption and the risks of side effects – but the Germans were obviously not aware of this. In 1999, public broadcasters were still able to report that up to 25,000 people died from medication every year, but by 2013 this number had more than doubled: there was now talk of up to 58,000 deaths per year. In 2017, the BR published figures according to which around eight percent of all emergency patients were admitted to the clinic because of undesirable drug side effects – at that time this corresponded to around 1.6 million German citizens per year and caused around 2.5 billion euros in direct hospital costs. How can something like that be, asked the mainstream and allowed Professor Andreas Sönnichsen – who later fell out of favor with the establishment because of his clear criticism of the Corona measures – to have his say:
Professor Andreas Sönnichsen from the University of Witten/Herdecke went in search of a cause, the proliferation of medication prescriptions. A practicing doctor himself, he leads an EU study with around 4,000 patients and over 300 general practitioners. It is about elderly patients who take several medications. In the run-up to this, he found out: “that almost every third drug is actually not suitable for the patient for various reasons. Either there is no scientific evidence of benefit, or the harm outweighs the benefit, or there are relevant drug interactions, or the dosage is wrong.”
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Party for Big Pharma
To think that medicine in Germany has only been completely free since Covid-19 is seriously wrong. This is also illustrated by the figures on steadily increasing pharmaceutical sales in Germany:
Turnover in the German pharmaceutical market (pharmacy and clinic) from 2006 to 2022 in billion euros:
Those: Statesman
If these figures seem absurdly high, your assessment is correct. Because: Germany is the largest European pharmaceutical market – and the fourth largest pharmaceutical market worldwide. According to UN data from 2022, the country is only 19th in terms of population.
The Federal Republic is not only the largest European pharmaceutical market, but also the fourth largest pharmaceutical market with a global market share of around four percent. Global drug sales exceed $1.2 trillion. More than two thirds are accounted for by the five largest national markets: the USA, China, Japan and the two most important European markets, Germany and France. With a market volume of 575 billion, the USA is by far the most important pharmaceutical market and its regulatory authority, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), is of global importance.
Those: Statesman
Cost explosion for contributors
Uncritical citizens like to claim that health care in Germany is “free”. This is of course outrageous nonsense. What the individual insured can whistle in the way of medication is ultimately financed by all the contributors. It is not without reason that social security contributions have been rising steadily for years – rising drug expenditure (and treatment costs caused by side effects) also play a role here, in addition to unchecked immigration into the social and health system.
Expenditure on pharmaceuticals by statutory health insurance (GKV) from 1999 to 2021 in billion euros:
Those: Statesman
The pharmaceutical industry has always had a good grip on Germany. Covid-19 has impressively shown that not every recommendation for drug treatment is made in the interests of the patient. This should encourage everyone to critically question their drug consumption (and, if in doubt, seek further opinions from experts). Not everything is necessary. Not everything is effective at all. And some things are even counterproductive for your own health.