Coronavirus Economic Effect: Rationing Medications to Survive

As pharmacists we talk to our patient’s time and time again about medication compliance, reconciliation, or whatever the new “catch term” is used today. Our job is to make sure our patients take their medications so they can maintain the best quality of life. We know for our patients that lack the financial resources, many times they have to make a choice of buying or rationing medications vs paying other medical or household bills.

At the time of this writing, there were more than 10 million Americans that have filed for unemployment insurance.¹  The number of food lines that have popped up around the country is staggering where people have waited in lines more than 18 hours to get food, and have in the first time in their lives, required food assistance.

Recently, I was watching the nightly news on ABC which interviewed a number of patients that have had to ration their medications. One woman on insulin has had to ration her insulin so it lasts longer. She stated:

“I woke up yesterday morning with a blood sugar of 420. I only have enough insulin for 2 days. I have rationed it for over 3 weeks now. I am afraid I will go into diabetic ketoacidosis, end up in the hospital and I know I will get the coronavirus. If I do, I most likely will die since I have this preexisting condition. I am so scared.”

How many patients do you know are experiencing the same situation? Since millions are out of work many patients either can’t afford or may be rationing their medications. Patients will choose food and shelter first, over medications.

As pharmacists, maybe we can consider a plan to work with physicians to help patients stretch the most life-altering medications to assist them through this most distressing time. It is not a fix, and maybe controversial, but desperate times come with desperate measures.

Also are there other ways to help our patients? What about pharmaceutical companies? Can they step up and help patients with free medications for a few months? Can our government create a national decree to allow patients free medications during this time?

I would like to hear from pharmacists out there experiencing these types of patients and what is being done if anything to help them.

Michael J. Cawley, PharmD, RRT, CPFT, FCCM, has more than 25 years of experience practicing in the areas of medical, surgical, trauma, and burn intensive care as both a critical care clinical pharmacist and registered respiratory therapist.

Reference

1. ABC News 6.6 million more Americans file for unemployment amid COVID 19 financial crises. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/66-million-americans-file-unemployment/story?id=7006171. Accessed April 16, 2020