The whole point of this episode is to challenge the viewer to think about the arguments. That’s all. Is it stupid as far as realism? Yeah it kinda is. But is it a subject matter many of the viewers at the time of it airing were thinking about? No.
I imagine the idea the writer had was “let’s challenge what the viewer thinks and/or feels without them knowing”. There’s a lot of that in ST throughout the years and I, for one have always been here for it.
It’s not the best episode, but it’s certainly not the worst.
Pharmaceuticals are an important component of modern life. We really need them now more than ever. They are a good thing.
Their capitalist greed and the big money that runs them is also doing all it can to suck every last cent out of the public.
Unfortunately both things can be true.