1 April 2019 - The majority of Americans believe that lowering drug prices should be the top health care priority for the federal government. 

Yet drug costs as a proportion of the country’s medical expenditures have increased substantially in recent years. Because drugs are basic necessities, and because how much society should contribute toward providing basic necessities is a question of justice, policies regarding drug prices must fulfil principles of justice, not just economic efficiency.

Based on four principles, I propose the average lifetime earnings standard for affordability. According to this standard, a drug price is unfair if it exceeds 11% of the average American’s disposable income. This suggests that current prices for many drugs are excessive and unjust.

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