In covering how Egypt managed to eradicate hepatitis C, the New York Times rewrites a key bit of history that betrays its misunderstanding of global drug pricing. Egypt’s access to the life-saving Harvoni was a gift from Gilead, not a result of a bare knuckle negotiation. It’s important to understand and explain the increasingly vulnerable system that underpins that gift before bad policy dismantles it.

Medicare coverage of anti-obesity medicines would boost competition due to an expanded market, more investors in search of better drugs, and more competitors. This would result in a true weight-loss revolution that can save lives and dramatically drive down the cost of these drugs.