FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 14, 2019
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Affordable Insulin NOW & Lower Drug Prices Now Host Premiere and Panel Discussion of “Across the Bridge” on World Diabetes Day
New Short Film Follows Caravan of Insulin Access Advocates to Canada, Where Insulin Costs Fraction of U.S. Price
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Affordable Insulin NOW, the Lower Drug Prices Nowcampaign, and various partners hosted the premiere and panel discussion of ‘Across the Bridge,’ a new short film that takes the audience on a must-see caravan journey from the United States to London, Ontario — the birthplace of insulin — with a group of advocates in search of affordable insulin. The advocates, forced to circumvent the skyrocketing price of insulin in America, voyage to Canada to purchase the lifesaving medicine at a fraction of the price and share their stories of heartbreak, loss and sacrifice along the way.
After the film screening, Affordable Insulin Now Campaign Director Rosemary Enobakhare kicked off a panel discussion of the film, featuring Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt (parents of Alec Smith), Kylene Redmond of T1 International, Margarida Jorge of Lower Drug Prices Now, Brad Woodhouse of Protect Our Care, Justin Mendozaof Families USA, Isaiah Cochran of the American Medical Student Association, and Patrick Carolan of the Franciscan Action Network.
“If the people in Congress and at the helm of these drug corporations were in this room right now, I would say: How would you feel if it was your loved one dying?” said James Holt, father of Alec Smith. “We do this advocacy because we want to make sure no other parent has to go through this pain.”
“Pharmaceutical companies will find any way they can to game the system. And finally, right now, we’re facing an historic moment where there’s enough political courage to introduce and pass in the House a piece of legislation that will actually lower drug prices for millions of Americans.” said Justin Mendoza of Families USA. “We wouldn’t be here, though, without the grassroots advocates who brought us here — and we still have a Senate that is too afraid to act. The time to act is now.”
“The film took me back to the day that we were outside Eli Lilly protesting.” said T1 International D.C. Chapter President Kylene Redmond. “I am lucky to be able to afford my insulin, but that could change any day — and I don’t take that for granted.”
“A lot of members of Congress claim to be Christians, so I don’t hesitate to call out their hypocrisy when they claim to be ‘right to life,’ said Franciscan Action Network Executive Director Patrick Carolan. “You can’t claim to be right to life if you allow people to die because they can’t afford prescription drugs.”
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About Affordable Insulin Now
Affordable Insulin NOW(a project of Health Care Voter) is a campaign aimed at holding politicians and pharmaceutical executives accountable and pushing for bold actions to address insulin pricing by sharing stories of patients who are struggling to afford treatment, and helping them advocate for changes to make insulin more affordable. We are mobilizing advocates to demand action on addressing the rising cost of prescription drugs for the millions of people whose lives are on the line.
About Lower Drug Prices Now
Members of the Lower Drug Prices Now coalition have come together to fight for transformative, bold reforms through legislative, legal and executive actions at the state and federal level based on four principles: government guarantee of affordable medicine for all, fair and equitable access, holding drug corporations accountable, and prioritizing public health over profit.