The emergence of the dominance of synthetic medicines before the era of modern clinical trials – a Hungarian perspective; Part I

Abstract

The emergence of the dominance of synthetic medicines is not only due to their purely scientific value, as is generally believed, but has been fundamentally facilitated by a number of societal factors that are usually overlooked: the patent system, demography, modern wars, the emergence of social insurance and mass health care, with the widespread operation of medical practices and pharmacies, the spread of industry-made finished medicinal products, the emergence of marketing by the pharmaceutical industry and the drug authorization system. This article analyses their role in the emerging dominance of synthetic medicines. Part I. of this publication discusses the significance of science, patent legislation and the legal system, demography, wars, and social insurance and public health (the medicalization of society).