It is costly
May 16, 2008 (Friday)
Today I have an appointment with my cardiologist. I have been seeing him every six months since my recovery from a heart attack and insertion of a stent, in 2001. A stent is a small tube made of stainless steel mesh, designed to open an artery and force it to stay open. The idea has been developed and refined over the years to customize the stents for specific uses. The manufacture of such things requires delicate procedures, using sophisticated processes. That costs money.
A visit to a hospital patient facility today is an experience to be remembered, because equipment and methods are in successive stages of change. Machines, pumps and monitors are being used by most patients, including some devices that were never dreamed about in the past. They cost money.
New equipment, new medicines and treatments, better facilities and specialized procedures are to be found everywhere in modern hospitals. These things cost a lot of money, and the research that led to their invention is also costly. Consequently, medical treatment is very expensive. That’s not news to people who have required medical treatment. They know it costs a lot of money.
The big question facing millions of people today is, “How can I pay for all this?” It’s a problem – a big one – and requires us all to give some thought to it. As Christians, we need to pray about the health needs of people, and their ability to get help.