Health Care or a Billion Dollar Industry

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Health care in the United States is a booming topic that everyone seems to have their own opinion on, but are the health care companies really interested in making the world a healthier place or are they more interested in making money? This is a growing social problem in not only the United States but the world. The social problems that are arising from health care are the growing pharmaceutical problems, the issue on overmedication, and the issue surrounding privatized hospitals. These social problems have been growing for decades and it is finally time to stop them. The first social problem surrounding the health care system in the United States is the growing problem with pharmaceutical companies. The industry averages a 17% profit margin and it has been booming for decades, but the industry is being heavily led by a core group of companies (Dr. Pratt). “In 1992 the top 10 companies accounted for roughly one-third of global pharmaceutical revenue, after a period of consolidation, by 2001 the top 10 accounted for nearly half.”( Leon-Guerrero, Zentgraf, 172). These companies hold a large majority of the market share and make most of their money off patented drugs. This growing core of companies that are dominating the market are causing more problems rather than solving them. These companies are all about making as much money as they can and it shows through the salaries of the executives of these companies (Dr. Pratt). The pharmaceutical industry should have their number one priority be to the users of their products rather than profit gains. The social problem surrounding the pharmaceutical industry can only be looked at through system blame. People see the good that the medication is doing for themselves and their famil... ... middle of paper ... ...ystem made to help keep us alive, is trying to take advantage of us. People should receive the best possible care regardless of who they are, and where they are from. Health care needs to do exactly what it says, care for our health, and not care for making large profits. Works Cited Berman, Jillian. "For-Profit Hospitals Pushing Patients Out Too Early: Report." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 May 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Leon-Guerrero, Anna, and Kristine M. Zentgraf. "Pills, Power, People." Contemporary Readings in Social Problems. Los Angeles: Pine Forge, 2009. 172-80. Print. Park, Madison. "Little People, Lots of Pills: Experts Debate Medicating Kids." CNN. Cable News Network, 24 May 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2014. Pratt, Tia, Dr. "Health and Health Care Delivery." Social Problems. United States, Philadelphia. Mar.-Apr. 2014. Lecture

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