The regulation of essential medicine prices by governments is a recurring topic in IELTS Writing Task 2, appearing roughly once every 4-6 months in actual tests. This frequency makes it crucial for IELTS candidates to be well-prepared on this subject, particularly given its relevance to healthcare policy and social welfare. For those interested in understanding the role of government in regulating prescription drug prices, this analysis will be particularly useful.
Government control and regulation of essential medicine prices
Analysis of Recent IELTS Task 2 Question
Some people believe that governments should control the prices of essential medicines to make them affordable for everyone. Others think that pharmaceutical companies should be free to set their own prices. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Question Analysis
- Topic: Government intervention in medicine pricing
- Task: Discussion + Opinion
- Key aspects to cover:
- Arguments for price control
- Arguments against price control
- Personal stance with justification
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.5)
The debate over whether governments should regulate essential medicine prices has become increasingly significant, particularly as healthcare costs continue to rise globally. While some advocate for complete pricing freedom for pharmaceutical companies, I firmly believe that government intervention is necessary to ensure universal access to vital medications.
Government price control of essential medicines can offer several crucial benefits. Firstly, it ensures that life-saving medications remain accessible to all socioeconomic groups, preventing situations where people must choose between basic necessities and medical treatment. For instance, insulin price regulations in many European countries have helped millions of diabetic patients maintain their treatment regimens without facing financial hardship. Additionally, price controls can help reduce healthcare inequality, a growing concern in many developing nations.
However, proponents of free market pricing present valid counterarguments. Their primary contention is that price controls might discourage pharmaceutical companies from investing in research and development, potentially slowing the creation of new medications. Furthermore, they argue that market competition naturally regulates prices and promotes innovation. These points align with Should governments regulate the pharmaceutical industry more strictly? discussions.
In my view, while the pharmaceutical industry’s concerns merit consideration, the fundamental right to healthcare should take precedence. A balanced approach would involve implementing price controls on essential medicines while offering research incentives and tax benefits to pharmaceutical companies. This strategy could maintain both accessibility and innovation. For example, countries like Canada have successfully combined price regulations with research grants, creating a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
In conclusion, despite the complexities involved, government regulation of essential medicine prices appears necessary to ensure public health and social equity. The key lies in finding the right balance between accessibility and maintaining pharmaceutical innovation.
Balanced approach to medicine pricing showing government oversight and pharmaceutical research
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
Nowadays, the cost of medicines is a big problem in many countries. Some people think the government should control medicine prices, but others believe pharmaceutical companies should decide prices themselves. This essay will discuss both sides and give my opinion.
On one hand, government control of medicine prices has some advantages. When the government sets prices, poor people can buy important medicines they need. Also, it stops companies from charging too much money. For example, in my country, many people cannot buy expensive medicines without government help. This relates to discussions about should pharmaceutical companies be non-profit.
However, pharmaceutical companies say they need freedom to set prices. They spend lots of money on making new medicines and doing research. If prices are too low, they might not make enough money to create new medicines. Also, some companies might stop selling medicines in countries with strict price controls.
In my opinion, I think the government should control prices of basic medicines but not all medicines. This way, everyone can get important medicines they need, but companies can still make money from other medicines. For example, the government can control prices of medicines for common diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
To conclude, both sides have good points, but I believe some government control is necessary to help people get medicines they need. The best solution is to find a middle way that helps both people and companies.
Vocabulary Analysis
- pharmaceutical (adj.) /ˌfɑːrməˈsuːtɪkl/ – relating to medicinal drugs
- precedence (n.) /ˈpresɪdəns/ – the condition of being more important
- socioeconomic (adj.) /ˌsoʊsioʊˌekəˈnɑːmɪk/ – relating to social and economic factors
- regimen (n.) /ˈredʒɪmən/ – a planned course of medical treatment
- innovation (n.) /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – new ideas or methods
- accessibility (n.) /əkˌsesəˈbɪləti/ – the quality of being easily obtained or used
- ecosystem (n.) /ˈiːkoʊsɪstəm/ – a complex network or interconnected system
- incentives (n.) /ɪnˈsentɪvz/ – something that motivates or encourages
Practice Suggestions
Consider practicing with these related topics:
- Should governments provide free healthcare for all citizens?
- Is privatization of healthcare services beneficial for society?
- Should pharmaceutical companies be required to invest a percentage of profits in research?
Share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and discussion with fellow IELTS candidates.
