Introduction
Current regulations are out of date, have numerous levels of control, and are inconsistent, necessitating public health law reform. Significant health threats and difficulties may require new legal systems, and governments may lack the authority to perform their public health obligations successfully. Moreover, existing legislation may not adequately balance people’s rights and interests with public health objectives.
Why Healthcare Reforms Are Needed
Regardless of the growing demand for novel treatments to treat neglected healthcare problems, development in the pharmaceutical sector has stagnated. As a result, firms are increasingly reprocessing and reusing old versions rather than developing new drugs. In 1996, the FDA authorized 57 new medications, but by 2010, there were just 19 new versions, with fewer breakthrough pharmaceuticals (Phillips, 2013). As a result, further reforms are needed to ensure that people with rare diseases are able to receive treatment and pharmaceutical companies are not driven solely by revenues.
Many people in the United States have difficulties financing various health care and dental expenses. These challenges are equivalent to – and in many situations greater than – the proportion of people who struggle to pay for other household expenses such as rent, commute, and groceries. In 2015, U.S. citizens spent $3.2 trillion on healthcare (nearly $10,000 per person on average), accounting for 17.8% of the country’s GDP, and the figure is expected to rise (Papanicolas et al., 2018). Additionally, various statistics show that only 90% of Americans have health insurance (Crowley et al., 2020). As a result, new reforms are needed to ensure that healthcare is accessible to everyone.
Conclusion
Hence, rather than being a hindrance, the legislation should serve as a stimulus for revitalizing the public health system. Many people experience struggles when it comes to the healthcare system. The first concern is that many pharmaceutical companies create drugs in demand, therefore, not paying enough attention to those with rare diseases. Additionally, many people cannot afford healthcare due to the absence of insurance. Thus, it is of utmost importance to make reforms in these areas.
References
Crowley, R., Daniel, H., Cooney, T. G., & Engel, L. S. (2020). Envisioning a better US health care system for all: Coverage and cost of care. Annals of Internal Medicine, 172, 7-32.
Papanicolas, I., Woskie, L. R., & Jha, A. K. (2018). Health care spending in the United States and other high-income countries. Jama, 319(10), 1024-1039.
Phillips, M.I. (2013). Big Pharma’s new model in orphan drugs and rare diseases. Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs, 1(1), 1-3.