Recent research has discovered a strong connection between failing to take a prescription and the inability to pay for that prescription. According to an article I read in The Chicago Tribune, a large portion of people—maybe as many as twenty percent—fail to take their medication because they are not able to afford the prescription. The study showed that the people at risk of non-adherence were people who had money issues, and people who came from difficult, disorganized lives.
The problem with this non-adherence is that many of the health issues that are left untreated can eventually lead to many more health issues, sometimes more severe than the initial. These more sever issues tend to bring about more prescriptions and more medical costs. It is an endless cycle due to the inability to treat the initial illness. Unfortunately, Doctors rarely ask patients whether they can afford their medication or not. The patients on the other hand, do not offer up this information because they fear embarrassment in their inability to pay. Instead, the prescriptions are written under the assumption that the patient will take them. So how do we fix this problem? How do we devise a system to make sure patients can afford and are actually taking their medicine once they leave the office?
I think this article presents a good barrier to effective change in public health. That is, the inability to control a person’s behavior. Instead, what we must do is make sure we provide necessary means for them to achieve maximum help. In this case, that would require making sure the prescriptions are affordable, or creating payment plans to assist in payments of the drugs.
I think this article also brings up an important point in drug delivery in general. With all of the patents on prescription drugs, it is not easy to administer drugs to those that need them. It is a constant battle to afford drugs necessary for the betterment of a group of people or even for the individual. So what can we do to make access to improved health possible for all? How can we work around these patents and not let cost of prescription get in the way of treatment and prevention of future health problems?
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ReplyDeleteThis all goes back to doctor-patient bond. It is of the utmost importance that doctors establish a relationship with their patients and earn their patient's trust so that there can be an open dialogue between the two. When this exists, doctors can work to better incorporate solutions into the patients' own lives. As we talked about today, culture is of the utmost importance. I think many doctors take for granted that if a person is coming to see them, that they can afford to do so--that is to say they don't expect to be visited by someone who can't afford medication. With today's economic tensions though more people than ever are having difficulties managing daily finances--not just those in extreme poverty but people throughout the middle class as well. To be able to understand the issues at play, I recommend trust. Once that trust is established, then we can look at finding a fitting solution or campaigning for better access.
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