Chapter 3 McMillan - He Who Can't Pay Die

AIDS killed numerous individuals in Africa.  There are several Africans that can’t pay for the drug nor do they have the sufficient level of health care in order to maintain its progression.  Simply stated, Africans do not have the resources or money available to them to fully cure themselves.  The “only real solution is to eliminate poverty” (31).  Economic growth such as receiving a better education will be the only cure for AIDS. A better education will allow Africans to obtain a better job, which leads to more income.  In turn, this income can be used to pay for the expensive drugs.  Since the pharmaceutical companies can dictate the price of their drugs, the Africans need to obtain enough money in order to pay for the good.

Due to the need for demand for drugs, pharmaceutical industries can charge whatever price they want for their drug.  “This is because the patient’s need is great, decisions on use and not made by the user but by a physician, and the bill is often paid not by the user but by an insure company or a government health plan” (34).  With the assistance of the Clinton administration, the government worked out a plan to benefit the individuals that were suffering from AIDS in the underdeveloped countries.  Other continents such as Africa and Asia would negotiate lower prices on the drugs so that they could afford them.  In addition, they also recreate similar drugs to that in the developed countries and sell them for a cheaper price.