They play games. First they "privatize" the results of government sponsored reasearch, then after patent expires they play games and tricks to prevent domestic competition to provide generic version etc ... The money is the main motive, they do not give hoot about consumers.
One medicine which I use is very expensive in USA and generic version is not available here. I can get it generic from Poland at 10% of price.
Funny thing is that this medication was invented in France years ago and the patent in US is controlled by a German company.
everything you ever wanted to know about the simvastatin patents is here.......Merck is not just being "nice"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=simvastatin+patent
Funny thing is if we followed your economic ideology that drug you need would never have been developed. Could you possibly know any less about the pharmaceutical industry and what drives innovation? 90% of all drugs brought to market these days are developed in the U.S. Why? because they can still make a profit here instead of donating their revenue to the nanny states you are so enamored with.
In a free economy, the pursuit of profits and serving the people are one in the same. Only an unabashed socialist would think it is Pharma's responsibility to the state to create drugs for consumers. How many drugs do state controlled economies create vs. free market economies? It's all you need to know.