Prescription drug prices in the United States are the highest in the world. US Prices for the world's 20 top-selling medicines are, on average, three times higher than in Britain, recent studies show.
Reports show that many Americans are struggling to pay for lifesaving medication. The United States, which leaves pricing to market competition, has higher drug prices than other countries where governments directly or indirectly control medicine costs.
Al Jazeera reports that an American college student has to pay 1400 $ a month for the insulin he needs to take to treat his diabetes despite of his health insurance coverage.
His family is trying to cut down on living costs by not going on vacations, turning off the heats and electricity at home to balance the treatment costs, his mother says.
The price of insulin has tripled, according to an American insulin society official. Families with or without insurance are facing this issue.
Although the US congress members are negotiating over new legislation to solve the problem, the pharmaceutical companies are the ones who set the prices at last. These costs are not covered by many American insurance policies.