Wednesday, January 22, 2014

85 vs 3,500,000,000


I found it shocking that the richest 85 people in the world, and many of them are in the pharmaceutical and various healthcare industries, now have the same wealthy as 3.5 billion or half the world's population. Will be hard not to think of that as I treat some of my patients who are struggling between the cost of food and housing, versus paying for healthcare services

http://business.time.com/2014/01/20/worlds-85-wealthiest-people-as-rich-as-3-5-billion-poorest/

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/worlds-85-richest-have-same-wealth-3-5-billion-poorest-2D11958883



1 comment:

Candi said...

There's so much to say on this topic that I don't know where to start. It's amazing to me the gulf between the wealthy and the poor. It's even more amazing when I read the statistics that say that said gulf is almost impossible to breach. America is supposed to be the land of great opportunity but when you read studies that say that it's almost impossible to improve your "station" in life by more than 2 levels it's so sad and discouraging. And like you said, to see people struggling with the decision between food and medicine when some people have more than they and all of their family will ever want or need, it's just frustrating. I can't imagine how this will make me feel once I become the provider who is trying to help these people knowing that they can't afford the appropriate medicine. I know I'm rambling, but this subject just really gets me going in all directions! Grrr