Match.com for Unused Medicine

Buying medication is a big problem in the United States because of the growing cost of prescription drugs. Because of this, it is no surprise that many people skip the process of filling their prescriptions, even with health insurance. In 2010, Kiah Williams and two of her acquaintances sought a solution to fix this all too common problem. They developed a nonprofit organization called SIRUM, which stands for Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine. The organization essentially allows clinics and other facilities that help low-income individuals distribute unused, unexpired medication that would have been otherwise thrown away.  

This organization has allowed approximately 4.3 million worth of medication to several dozen facilities, benefiting thousands. While most American's are required to have health insurance, often times there are high deductibles and out-of-pocket-costs. This, in turn, causes many of the needed prescriptions to not be filled simply because many cannot afford it. SIRUM has helped thousands of people and hopefully many more in the future.

This article is relevant to marketing because of its economical aspect. Money, especially when it comes to low-income families, is not something that can easily be spent on even the most essential of things, like lifesaving medication. Many are putting their own health at risk in order to make sure they have enough money for food, bills or other essential living expenses. The idea of being able to be healthy without having to spend an arm and a leg so to speak, should not be far-fetched especially in our day and age. Medical advances are being discovered every day, but what good are they when the people that need them the most cannot even afford them?

               This article interested me because of the fact that every so often my father has to fill out a prescription for health issues and while he does have insurance, there are many loopholes within it. There is a façade with insurance because while they claim that you will be able to afford expensive medication because of your coverage, there is a huge limit to it. There is a coverage gap in more prescription drug plans which essentially means is that there is a temporary limit on what the plan will cover for drugs, therefore causing very high out-of-the-pocket costs. What Williams and her colleagues are doing is amazing because everyone deserves a chance at receiving lifesaving medication.

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