Is it because most medicines are paid for out of pocket? Yet almost everything, from food, clothing, rent and education to retirement, is paid for out of pocket. So why does the price of a pill get singled out for the firing squad?

It is high time authorities looked into the situation and made healthcare affordable for all. While increased budgetary allocation would be an essential component, its effective and exhaustive utilisation is also key.

A decade ago, the government set a target of bringing out-of-pocket health care expenses down to 32 percent by 2032, but the burden of medical spending on people has only gotten heavier over the years.