Altruism - and Capitalism
Copyright Jack Mixner. 714 449 1040. www.mixnerstrategy.com
For a while now, the US government has complained about the scarcity of vaccines to treat various illnesses. A plant was closed in the UK and Americans couldn't get flu shots last year. Lately, complaints surface occasionally about the problems to come if bird flu makes a major jump from wildlife to humans. Vaccines aren't necessarily profitable for companies to create. Plus, sterile manufacturing at large volume is apparently problematic. Thus the shortages.
Somebody is doing something about it, and we still hear complaints. Indonesia is starting to sell samples of the bird flu virus to Baxter Healthcare, in a newly formed non-exclusive arrangement. The World Health Organization is complaining (McNeil).
What's wrong with this picture? The public good is colliding with capitalism. In the long run, we will have to see if it will work. In the short run, the WHO still has a role, that of ensuring that Baxter, and other for-profits that compete for the virus to create vaccines, have the capacity to protect against disaster.
In the long run, my suspicion is that we are in good hands. In the short run, let's keep an eye on those hands. We need to make sure enough manufacturers are supplying enough for all of us.
References
McNeil, Donald G., Jr. Indonesia May Sell, Not Give, Bird Flu Virus to Scientists. The New York Times. 7 February 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/world/asia/07birdflu.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin