Last week, I wrote a piece for The Daily Record arguing that access to affordable prescription drugs is a human right. In the ER, I have seen time and time again what happens when people don’t take their medications because they simply can’t afford them. In Baltimore, I experience this limitation every day as we ration the life-saving opioid antidote, naloxone. This should never happen: nobody should be priced out of their ability to live.

The Maryland General Assembly is considering two bills that will help rein in the escalating cost of prescription drugs. The first would prohibit the so-called “gag rule,” by which pharmacists are often barred from telling their patients about cheaper ways to pay for their prescription drugs (i.e., out-of-pocket, rather than through insurance co-pays, or by purchasing a generic version of the medication). The second bill would establish a Drug Cost Commission to assess why drugs are priced the way they are. These bills are a step in the right direction in making prescription drugs affordable.

In addition to working with our representatives in Annapolis, we are also raising awareness about chronic health issues in our communities. On Wednesday, I joined Mayor Pugh for a Heart Health Month celebration at the Waxter Center, and discussed ways we can take care of ourselves and mind our heart health. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking are the leading causes of heart disease, which kills nearly 2,000 Baltimoreans every year. Among those causes, smoking is the biggest preventable contributor – people who quit smoking reduce their risk of heart disease by half after just one year. (I learned something myself too: our seniors taught me how to dance the electric slide.)

It’s never too early or too late to start pursuing healthier lifestyles. I am proud to serve as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner under a Mayor who is committed to advancing the health and well-being of our residents. Join Mayor Pugh and our Billion Step Challenge! Since launching the program last summer, Baltimoreans have logged more than 306 million steps—we need you to help us to keep Baltimore heart healthy!

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.

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