The amendment faces other legislative hurdles, but its easy passage through the Senate amid fierce lobbying by drug makers reflects the issue's political firepower. While no such concerted effort on high drug prices exists in Europe, the pockets of protest over drug availability are growing stronger, and more change is emerging in an old and ailing system. Much of Europe's postwar recovery came with a social safety net that offered the citizenry almost blanket health care at little cost. In recent years, though, demographics and budgetary pressures have torn holes in that net. Shrinking birth rates and a growing pool of elderly are pinching tax rolls and squeezing pension funds.
Demographics also underpin the cancer-drug debate.
Experts predict that the incidence of cancer will rise relentlessly among Europe's aging populations. This will boost demand for a spate of revolutionary anticancer medicines expected to reach the market during the coming decade. At the same time, the current generation of Europeans is more savvy and demanding than its postwar predecessors when it comes to health care. Now, with the Internet, they're knocking on every door they can to get the medicines they want. In Europe's prescription-drug war, Belgium and Norway have emerged as particular trouble spots.