Is There Really Free Medicine for the Poor?

Is There Really Free Medicine for the Poor?

Well there really are programs available that provide Free Medicine for the poor. They are known as Patient Assistance Programs or as Prescription Assistance Programs. We have addressed them in previous posts.  The United States Government has outlined it’s 2009 Poverty Guidelines. You can find the Federal Government poverty criteria for individuals and family members by visiting http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/.

There are various public interest groups that continually lobby corporate drug makers to provide free medical supplies to low income families.

In the state of New Jersey, the pharmaceutical company, Schering-Plough Corporation has agreed to provide free or greatly discounted medicine to the needy. Large drug companies are stepping up and providing medications to the poor in our country.

This center for corporate responsibility has appropriately timed its newest campaign to coincide with the current influx of annual corporate meetings. They have managed to submit enough shareholder resolutions meant to provide more help for the needy. The aim of the various meetings is to bring up the proposals to be voted upon by the various stockholders of the many pharmaceutical corporations including such giants as Pfizer, Merck & Co., as well as Bristol-Myers Squibb.

It accurately displays their concerns relating to the availability and price of quality prescription drugs for the poor. Their long range goal is nothing short of a complete revolution within the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s amazing to see how many large drug companies are developing their own patient assistance programs and providing free medicines to people who cannot afford them.

Patients must conform to the eligibility requirements outlined by each major pharmaceutical company. The requirements are quite similar for all programs and typically will refer to the Federal Poverty guidelines mentioned above as well as require that the patient be unemployed and have no health insurance.

For more information about Free Medicine visit our previos post.