The Formation of Buyers Clubs

In the 1980s, the severe impact of AIDS led to the establishment of buyers clubs as a response to the healthcare crisis surrounding the disease. These clubs, such as the New York Buyers Club helmed by Derek Hodel, focused on obtaining life-saving medications that were unavailable in the U.S. due to the lengthy FDA approval process. By smuggling drugs from countries where they were already approved, these organizations aimed to provide immediate relief for those suffering from AIDS-related illnesses, effectively creating a lifeline for patients in desperate need of treatment.