The Ethical Value Of Altruism In Retail Pharmacy

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Our healthcare system requires the appropriate adjustments to allow greater access of medications for patients, so I agree with Dr. Teply on her stance. Dr. Teply explains that clinicians sometimes pay little attention to the financial aspect of a patient. A familiar situation in retail pharmacy occurs when a patient receives a prescription for an expensive brand medication that surprises them. Many times, the patient will refuse to fill the medication due to the high cost. The pharmacy can assist by calling the physician to switch to a cheaper alternative. Some patients end up not receiving any medication because of the cost and the pharmacy didn’t offer to call their doctor. This situation occurs far too often and needs to be addressed in order to expand the access of medications. The pharmacist …show more content…

If a doctor is prescribing an expensive medication that the patient cannot afford, the pharmacist should be informing the patient of cheaper alternative that provide the same benefits at a lower cost. Some physicians provide patients with prescription coupons from the drug companies which lowers the cost of the medications and makes them more affordable for the patient. This practice displays the ethical value of altruism because the physicians are displaying concern for the total welfare of their patients (Haddad). They understand the medication can be expensive for the patient and are providing an alternative means to lower the cost. The pharmacist can also participate by looking online for drug coupons too. If I saw a patient picking up an expensive medication that has a drug coupon, I would help the patient enroll with one to lower the cost. If a patient doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford their medication, our pharmacy provides a discount card for the uninsured to help lower the cost. There is a rewarding feeling I get when patients show how grateful they

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