Providing free medical care

I've been on several overseas medical missions trips where we provided free medical care. I even went on some trips as a medical student. We distributed medications, performed some minor surgeries, and evaluated patients for all types of acute and chronic medical conditions. Since we were only there for a short amount of time, we could only make a small impact. However, other medical teams would frequently visit the same towns and villages, so they would receive intermittent care through the year.

Now, you don't even need to go overseas to provide free medical care to those who are in need. According to the WSJ Health Blog: "More than 2,000 people showed up the other day at a Southern California basketball arena seeking free medical and dental care... A nonprofit group called Remote Area Medical is holding a week-long clinic at the Inglewood Forum, the former home of the L.A. Lakers...There weren’t enough medical volunteers to treat everyone who showed up for the clinic’s first day yesterday, and hundreds of people spent the night in the parking lot in hopes of getting care today, the L.A. Times reports."

I've provided free medical care overseas and also in several major U.S. cities. There are so many people in this country who need medical care but they're unable to afford it. We don't have enough groups like Remote Area Medical to provide free care to those who lack health insurance.

More free medical care

Watch this CNN video of people receiving free medical care in Virginia.

AstraZeneca Expands AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program

During these difficult economic times, any type of savings program is appreciated. AstraZeneca is expanding its prescription savings program by extending assistance to qualifying patients who have recently lost their jobs, had their incomes reduced, or experienced a change in marital status or family size.

"AstraZeneca is committed to helping patients get the medicines they need," said Rich Fante, US President, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. "Our responsibility goes beyond developing medicines to also making them available to those who cannot afford them."

Here are the details of the AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings programs:

• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for people without insurance: AstraZeneca provides AstraZeneca medicines at no cost to qualifying individuals without prescription drug coverage who make up to $30,000 per year and families of four who make up to $60,000 per year.
• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for people with Medicare Part D: AstraZeneca provides low-cost AstraZeneca medicines for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year or couples who make up to $40,000 per year.
• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities: AstraZeneca provides AstraZeneca medicines at no cost to qualifying non-profit healthcare facilities, such as disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers and community free clinics. This program connects patients to the AstraZeneca medicines they need at the same time and place they receive their treatment.

Patients can learn more about the AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program at www.azandme.com or by calling 1-800-AZandMe.

Providing free medical care

You don't have to go on a medical missions trip to provide free medical care. I've personally had the opportunity to deliver some free medical care here in the U.S. and also in Mexico, Ecuador, and Honduras (these were through medical missions trips). It's very rewarding to provide free healthcare and it seems like more U.S. physicians and other U.S. healthcare professionals are spending time to volunteer and help the community during these difficult economic times. Are you willing to volunteer right now? I realize that we may not be in the midst of a national disaster like Hurricane Katrina, but our nation is facing some serious economic challenges and many individuals and families are in desperate need of medical care.

Watch this brief CNN video as hundreds line up for free medical care at a Remote Area Medical event in East Tennessee. Can't see the video? Make sure you're on Medicine and Technology