The problem of rising prescription drug costs has been a major source of debate in recent years. Many people are worried about the increasing medicine prices, and rightfully so. The cost of a drug can often be a deciding factor between a healthy and an ill person. The rising prescription costs are gatekeeping poor individuals and communities from access to better healthcare (Heath, 2017). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s poll, at least 79% percent of surveyed Americans think that the prescription costs are “unreasonable”, with many of them not being able to afford their prescriptions altogether (2017). Furthermore, it becomes harder to buy drugs if you need to take more than one type. As reported, at least 14% of American drug spending is attributed to out-of-pocket purchases by the population (Kaplan, 2019). An increasing number of patients are facing the increasing risk of not being to afford their medicine (Heath, 2019). Lowering the cost of prescriptions will allow for easier access to them, especially from the vulnerable demographics, such as the poor and the elderly.
Evidence is one of the most important tools employed in any argument. The presence of solid evidence oftentimes allows one to cover for their lack of skill in other areas, and serves to justify their decisions for them. The principle of using evidence is especially important in lawmaking, where one’s decisions impact the lives of many. The process of approving new laws and revising old ones serves, first of all, to help the nation’s people, and should be executed with their interests in mind. The best way, in my opinion, to ensure that you are arguing in good faith, as a legislator, is to gather as much information on the issue you are discussing as possible.
References
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2019) Public Opinion on Prescription Drugs and Their Prices. Web.
Kaplan, L. (2019). Lowering the cost of prescription drugs. The Nurse Practitioner, 44(11), 14–15. Web.
Heath, S. (2019). Rising Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs Spur Patient Financial Woes. Patient Engagement HIT. Web.
Heath, S. (2017). High Drug Costs Limit Patient Access to Treatment, Medication. Patient Engagement HIT. Web.