TED Talks Daily What if lifesaving prescriptions were affordable for all? | Kiah Williams
Sep 15, 2020
Kiah Williams, the founder of SIRUM, tackles the urgent crisis of sky-high prescription drug prices in the U.S. She reveals how her nonprofit aims to recycle unused medications, potentially saving nearly a billion dollars worth within the next five years. Williams shares heart-wrenching stories of families forced to choose between basic needs and lifesaving treatments. The conversation highlights a revolutionary model for medication redistribution, promising affordable prescriptions for uninsured individuals while addressing the shocking waste in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Impossible Choices
- Kimberly had to choose between basic necessities and her medication.
- Debbie faced the dilemma of paying bills or affording life-saving medicine.
Medication Inaccessibility
- High prescription drug costs force many to skip medication.
- 10,000 people die monthly in the US from not taking needed medications.
Waste and Injustice
- $10 billion worth of good medication is wasted while people struggle to afford it.
- This reveals a major injustice within the healthcare system.