Letters

Joke: Why is a common antibiotic cheaper and easier to get in a third-world country?

Punchline: Because they cut out excessive layers of health care.

I go to Egypt on vacation, to see the pyramids. Then, I realize I have a urinary tract infection. How am I to ride the poor camel to one of the ancient wonders of the world?

The hotel sends me to the pharmacy. I walk out with a common (prepackaged, written in English) antibiotic made in the USA by GlaxoSmithKline, called Augmentin. It was the best $5 I’ve ever spent!

My son gets sick on New Year’s Day. He uses a walk-in facility and gets a script for the same Augmentin that I got in Egypt. They send him to the only pharmacy open in the area, as it’s a holiday. He gives them his Emblem insurance card. They don’t take his specific plan. He asks: How much over the counter? They respond: $85.

Do you really think your private health insurance in the USA works? Saying to yourself, “Oh, not my insurance” is not economically smart. If a taxpayer is unable to go to work because they are sick, they can’t pay their taxes. That loss comes out of everyone’s pocket.

Egypt, a developing country, has universal health care. They struggle with water, pollution and traffic, yet they are able to provide medicine and health care for all. Don’t think they thought for one minute that I was Egyptian, as I am a blond woman who stands 5 feet 10 inches. Yes, health care for all — even foreigners.

This the very sad state of health care in the USA.

Elizabeth Plate

Quogue