You are quite right there Cathy. The problem is multifactorial. Also, the profit motive and greed is to be considered too.

Years ago at SJ, somebody posted that she had a pregnancy test and it cost her $200. I couldn't believe it. I buy the pregnancy test kits for my clinic at a cost of $1, and I chose a US brand (the Korean and Japanese brands are much cheaper). I charge patients $4 (I reckoned a dollar will cover my overhead, a dollar for the medical technologist's salary, a dollar for the test kit and a dollar for profit) and I felt guilty for getting a 100% return for the test cost.

But $200!!! That's outrageous!!!