Medical Innovation Vs. Access to Healthcare

There is no question that the US healthcare system is one of the most complex systems in the world, riddled with disparities and inequities. It would be unfair, however, to overlook the significant impact the US has on medical innovation compared to any other country. Many would argue that what causes US healthcare to be so inaccessible to many, compared to residents of similar nations, is the very same reason the US is leading the world in medical research and innovation. What sets the US apart from other comparable countries is the extent of a free market, especially when it comes to the health field. Not many people would argue against money and profit being possibly the strongest driving force for progress and development. Companies and pharmaceuticals in the US are strongly motivated to continuously modernize and innovate in a market that promises huge financial gain for revolutionary ideas. This is not the case in most comparable countries, which may regulate this area of the market more heavily in order to ensure prices stay within a reasonable range and remain reasonably accessible to patients. Now the question is whether medical innovation is worth limiting access to healthcare. Would it be worth it if those most in need of these innovations do not have access to them?