Interesting priorities

 What are our cultural priorities? Do we care about others?  Is profit the primary motivator?

This morning on National Public Radio (NPR), I heard gas prices had decreased. However, insulin prices are high, and some American families must travel to Canada because they cannot afford insulin. As I hear this, I think about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the political opposition to the Act.

One of the goals of the ACA was to have everyone with health insurance coverage (Manchikanti et al., 2017). If everyone is covered and has access to health care, it suggests a healthier community and country. Is health not a right for human beings and animals even?

When gasoline prices increased, there was outrage. However, for healthcare, specifically insulin, there does not appear to be the same outrage. I wonder why? Is it we blame the victim? The person did something to cause their diabetes? Did the parents of children with diabetes do something wrong?

Did you know that in 1923 the patent for insulin was sold for $1.00? The patent owners wanted insulin to be available for everyone who needed it (The Soaring Cost of Insulin, n.d.) In today’s social-economic climate, the goal seems to be profit. Insulin prices are so high that  people with diabetes have to ration their insulin which ultimately affects their health and well-being (Huang, 2019).

Perhaps it is time for introspection. What do we want as Americans? As people? And for others in our society? Where is our empathy? If our brothers and sisters are strong, we are strong. Each one of us being healthy in mind and body makes a strong and healthy nation.

 Thank you for reading. 

 

References

Huang, B. (2019, November 14). Insulin rationing led to daughter’s death, lehigh valley woman says. high cost forces many diabetics to do the same. The Morning Call. https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-hea-insulin-rationing-poverty-20191114-2a5yaasyrbaute57t6dyo3leam-story.html

Manchikanti, L., MD, Helom, S., III, Benyamin, R. M., MD, & Hirsch, J. A., MD. (2017). A critical analysis of Obamacare: Affordable care or insurance for many and coverage for few. Pain Physician Journal, (20), 111–138. www.painphysicianjournal.com

The soaring cost of insulin. (n.d.). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/blog/the-soaring-cost-of-insulin-1.4995290#:~:text=In%201923%2C%20the%20patent%20for%20insulin%20was%20sold,the%20U.S.%20And%20that%20has%20implications%20for%20Canada.