The Ethics of Pricing and Access to Healthcare: A Social Justice Issue

Abstract

In most countries in the developed world, healthcare is considered a right, not a privilege. Access to appropriate medical services, including pharmaceuticals, is viewed as a natural part of the commitment of the government to its people. In the United States, though, the focus on pharmaceutical development has led to a kind of “free-for-all” in the industry, where each company strives to produce new products at an alarming rate, with the end goal of profitability and competitive advantage.