While I was aware of the fact that the United States was not the best country in terms of the affordability of healthcare, I was honestly very shocked to see the statistics that were presented during lecture on Monday. It was very surprising to see how healthcare in the United States compared to other countries worldwide, in terms of affordability and health outcomes.
The clip that was presented in lecture about the woman who prioritized her heart medications over her insulin reminded me of experiences I have had working in a community pharmacy setting and watching as patients chose to pick up some medications and neglect others based on their cost. A few years ago, the price of EpiPens/epinephrine spiked exponentially. In 2007, the AWP of two EpiPens was $113.27 which increased to $730.33 in 2016. During the same time frame, the price for two brand name EpiPens in the United Kingdom was just $69, and both France and the Netherlands sold the medication for under or around $100.
Since then, the prices have decreased due to the introduction of a generic product on the market, however, according to GoodRx, a two pack of generic Epipen (epinephrine) for a patient with no insurance still costs over $120. Another alternative to Epipen, called AUVI-Q, is available free of charge to individuals with a prescription who meet certain eligibility requirements. However, it may take 4 to 6 weeks for AUVI-Q prescriptions to be filled through the program. Considering that epinephrine is a such an important medication for an individual who is at risk to experiencing anaphylaxis, waiting over a month to receive a prescription that they may need at any moment, just so they do not have to pay for it, seems a bit unreasonable. While the United States has made some progress on this issue since prices first increased in 2016, I still find it very surprising that such an important medication costs so much more in the United States compared to other countries. The administration of epinephrine during an anaphylactic attack could mean the difference between life and death in a patient and, in my opinion, no patient should have to put their lives at risk because they cannot afford a medication that does not have to be as expensive as the United States makes it.
https://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/american-epipen-price-as-much-as-nine-times-higher-than-in-other-wealthy-countries/
Comments
Post a Comment