TED Health
Interview: 3 reasons why medications are so expensive in the US | Kiah Williams
Apr 29, 2025
Dr. Hussain Lalani, a primary care physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, shares his insights on the staggering costs of medications in the U.S., particularly insulin, which is vastly overpriced despite low production costs. He discusses the complex supply chain and the various stakeholders involved, revealing how patients often suffer due to unaffordable prescriptions. The conversation emphasizes the need for reforms in the patent system to increase competition and improve access to essential drugs, empowering listeners to advocate for more affordable healthcare.
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Quick takeaways
- High drug prices in the U.S. force patients to make difficult choices between medication and essential needs like housing and food.
- Systemic issues like patent exploitation and lack of negotiation power significantly contribute to the relentless unaffordability of prescription drugs.
Deep dives
The Impact of High Drug Costs
High prescription drug prices create significant challenges for patients, forcing them to make difficult choices between medication and basic necessities like housing and food. An example discussed involved a patient named Jane suffering from severe endometriosis, who faced a monthly cost of over $400 for her necessary medication, which she ultimately could not afford. This led to her experiencing pain, missing work, and eventually losing her job and insurance, highlighting how exorbitant drug costs can have cascading effects on one’s life. Such circumstances demonstrate the critical need for reform in medication pricing to ensure that necessary treatments are accessible to everyone.
