Band 6+: Some people say that drug companies have a responsibility to spend money on researching medicines that will help people in poorer countries. Others say the main responsibility of drug companies is to make money. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some intellectuals argue that drug manufacturing companies owe it a duty to invest in researching medicine that will be beneficial to individuals in economically disadvantaged countries while others feel that the sole aim of these companies is profit making. I will delve into the two sides of the debate and give a concluding view.

On the one hand, proponents of the view that the main essence of drug companies is for financial profit feel that, since these companies are the same in organization and mode of operations with other businesses, making financial gain should be their top-most priority. The human, financial and material resources are assets that form the bedrock on which the operational guidelines for managerial, manufacturing, marketing and research indices are made and evaluated so as to guaranty good quality products and maintained a competitive edge over other companies. Running such a clandestine organization needs huge capital, therefore, the return on investment becomes the motivational force for continual existence.

On the other hand, those advocating for pharmaceutical companies to channel their resources into helping economically backward nations hinged their argument on the premise that all lives are equal and safeguarding it is everyone’s business. It is undoubtedly that the population in these regions is plagued with endemic diseases like malaria, enteric fevers, cholera and tuberculosis, which has worsen the deplorable state of their socio-economic status. These disease conditions are curable and preventable, but they are account for the high rate of morbidity and mortality in these nations. Therefore, considering the value of each life and the great potentials imbedded in them, it behoves on these corporations to shoulder all the needed medicines to them.

In conclusion, although pharmaceutical corporations are entitled to generate profit, I strongly believe that considering the sacredness of life, these companies should vote a good chunk of their resources to eliminate endemic diseases in these continents.