Costly Perscription

By: Shanell Harmon

My auntie Claira Morris is a seasoned woman who is usually calm and quiet, but seemed stressed when we talked about how much her prescriptions cost.

“Whenever I walk into a pharmacy it leaves a feeling of grief; because after paying for medication there is no money left,” she said. My auntie is on a fixed income and lives in a retirement center and on occasion has to choose between getting a prescription filled and replenishing her refrigerator. And she is not alone. The battle between major pharmaceutical companies and American consumers has left the U.S. paying the highest drug prices in the world, according to Richard T. Evans, senior research analyst of global pharmaceuticals at Sanford C. Berstein & Co. This puts Americans in a crucial situation. This is not fair. No one should have to feel like my auntie. The Government and the pharmaceutical companies need to work together in order to find a solution. The Government is responsible, therefore they are the ones that have complete control.It’s hard to manage when the source that one depends on seems to be working against any chance of progress. In this case the government is the source.

However, the government is not completely hanging the people out to dry. Recently, the government has been giving more information about generic drugs. Generic drugs are supposed to be cheaper and deliver cures to an illness. It has been proven through research that generics are better then name brands. But this is not enough.

Government should work with insurance companies so they are able to pay more of a percentage of prescription drug costs. If the government and insurance companies decide to work together, individuals like my auntie won’t have to worry about the price of getting well.