---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Medicines are unusual commodities…"
description: "\"Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can save the lives and protect the health of millions. Their consumption can bring huge benefits, by..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg"
---

#  Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can…

![“Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can save the lives and protect the health of millions. Their consumption can bring huge benefits, by helping patients to avoid infection and preventing serious damage to the economies of families, nations and even humanity at large.” quote by Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg)

> “Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can save the lives and protect the health of millions. Their consumption can bring huge benefits, by helping patients to avoid infection and preventing serious damage to the economies of families, nations and even humanity at large.”

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Essential medicines provide massive health and economic benefits, safeguarding individuals and societies.

**In simple terms:** Medicines protect health and economies.

Key Takeaway

Support universal access to medicines.

Themes

health economics justice

Mood

concerned optimistic

Type

policy ethical

When to use this quote

- pandemic response
- rural clinics
- insurance policy
- pharmaceutical pricing

Key Concepts

public health global equity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure equitable access?
- What policies protect medicine supply?

A Different Perspective

Distribution challenges limit impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Avoid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Commodities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodities/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Save](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-save-1635155/) [Economies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economies/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-drugs-477474/) [Infection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infection/) [Large](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Medicines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicines/) [Medicines Unusual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicines-unusual-1635156/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Patients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patients/) [Preventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preventing/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-health-807034/) [Save](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Unusual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unusual/)

## Related quotes

> [I can understand the drug thing. So they feel that it's more important to take the drugs than to do a good show for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-can-understand-the-drug-thing-so-they-feel-that-it-s-more-important/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [It's easy to complain that pharmaceutical companies place profits over people and apparently care more about hair loss than TB. However, many in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/it-s-easy-to-complain-that-pharmaceutical-companies-place-profits/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [The cost of research, development and testing of a new drug is vastly greater than the cost of each dose produced. How should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-cost-of-research-development-and-testing-of-a-new-drug-is-vastly/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [We need to do everything we can to protect the health and welfare of children around the world, but fortunately, it's getting easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/we-need-to-do-everything-we-can-to-protect-the-health-and-welfare-of/)

[Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/)

> [As governor, it is my duty to protect the health and welfare of Virginians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-youngkin/as-governor-it-is-my-duty-to-protect-the-health-and-welfare-of/)

[Glenn Youngkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-youngkin/)

> [The right to protect the health and well-being of every person, of those we love, is a basic human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/the-right-to-protect-the-health-and-well-being-of-every-person-of/)

[Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/)

> [I will fight every day to protect the health of our communities, to provide comprehensive care for our women and our mothers, to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mcbath/i-will-fight-every-day-to-protect-the-health-of-our-communities-to/)

[Lucy McBath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mcbath/)

> [We need to accept the seemingly obvious fact that a toxic environment can make people sick and that no amount of medical intervention can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/we-need-to-accept-the-seemingly-obvious-fact-that-a-toxic-environment/)

[Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/)

> [Protect your health. Without it you face a serious handicap for success and happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-f-banks/protect-your-health-without-it-you-face-a-serious-handicap-for/)

[Harry F Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-f-banks/)

> [We must continue our work to improve and strengthen health care for Georgians, and we must defend the vital protections and programs that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mcbath/we-must-continue-our-work-to-improve-and-strengthen-health-care-for/)

[Lucy McBath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mcbath/)

> [Working families need to know that we will work to protect their health needs, promote the development of safe, effective medicines, and guarantee patient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dodd/working-families-need-to-know-that-we-will-work-to-protect-their/)

[Christopher Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dodd/)

> [Every day that goes by when we can save innocent and unborn lives and protect the health and safety of women is a win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-parson/every-day-that-goes-by-when-we-can-save-innocent-and-unborn-lives-and/)

[Mike Parson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-parson/)

> [At FDA, our mission is to promote and protect the health of the public. As commissioner, I've worked hard to galvanize people around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hamburg/at-fda-our-mission-is-to-promote-and-protect-the-health-of-the-public/)

[Margaret Hamburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hamburg/)

> [Simple, easy actions can protect the health of our water resources and help save drinking water supplies. There is not one individual who cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kiernan/simple-easy-actions-can-protect-the-health-of-our-water-resources-and/)

[Ian Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kiernan/)

> [I think most people are motivated to want to do what is best for themselves. People want to avoid STDs. I believe in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-brown/i-think-most-people-are-motivated-to-want-to-do-what-is-best-for/)

[Chester Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-brown/)

## More by Thomas Pogge

> [I think that many citizens understand how our system works, or rather, fails to work, for structural reasons. But who has the capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-that-many-citizens-understand-how-our-system-works-or-rather/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [The massive corruption common in so many developing countries would be quite impossible if Western countries did not provide convenient opportunities to ship ill-gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-massive-corruption-common-in-so-many-developing-countries-would/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [What we should do is require or at least permit innovators to license their green innovations free of charge in exchange for public payments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/what-we-should-do-is-require-or-at-least-permit-innovators-to-license/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [You can get an ice-cold Coke for around fifty cents in most developing countries, not just in the major population centers, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/you-can-get-an-ice-cold-coke-for-around-fifty-cents-in-most/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [I think one big improvement would be if we somehow made it cheaper and easier for developing countries to learn from the sad experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-one-big-improvement-would-be-if-we-somehow-made-it-cheaper/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [Purchasing power parities are not a reasonable method for comparing households across countries or currencies. The reason for this is simply that PPPs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/purchasing-power-parities-are-not-a-reasonable-method-for-comparing/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [The extremely low respect Congress enjoys among the population indicates that the citizens understand broadly what's going on. But the lack of a realistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-extremely-low-respect-congress-enjoys-among-the-population/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [One citizen, or a few, may be powerless if all the rest are determined to benefit from the imposition of unjust supranational rules. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/one-citizen-or-a-few-may-be-powerless-if-all-the-rest-are-determined/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [Severe poverty is getting better by some measures, but it's also becoming ever more scandalous because it is now so easily avoidable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/severe-poverty-is-getting-better-by-some-measures-but-it-s-also/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [To improve global health, it's not enough just to have a really good new product and to obtain marketing approval. You still need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/to-improve-global-health-it-s-not-enough-just-to-have-a-really-good/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [We have the ability now to arrange global economic institutions so that poverty declines to a fraction of what it is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/we-have-the-ability-now-to-arrange-global-economic-institutions-so/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [Dictatorial regimes often manage to keep themselves in power because they are recognized by foreigners as representing the state and its people, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/dictatorial-regimes-often-manage-to-keep-themselves-in-power-because/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [Drafts of domestic legislation must be published, debated and publicly voted on, which gives ample opportunities to civil society organizations and ordinary citizens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/drafts-of-domestic-legislation-must-be-published-debated-and-publicly/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [In the United States there are only two exceptions: banks have to report deposits they suspect to be related to either terrorism or drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/in-the-united-states-there-are-only-two-exceptions-banks-have-to/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [Large companies are very good at solving extremely complex problems in a globally optimal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/large-companies-are-very-good-at-solving-extremely-complex-problems/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

[Explore all 88 Thomas Pogge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

## More Avoid quotes

> [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/)

[David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [I avoid processed food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-avoid-processed-food/)

[Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [Patients' lives are more important than embryos. I do want to avoid the use of embryos if possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinya-yamanaka/patients-lives-are-more-important-than-embryos-i-do-want-to-avoid-the/)

[Shinya Yamanaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinya-yamanaka/)

> [I studiously avoid any academic dissections of the play and any kind of previous experience of playing. For me, it's all in the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/i-studiously-avoid-any-academic-dissections-of-the-play-and-any-kind/)

[Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/)

> [The mark of the man is how he responds to situations. You're not going to avoid tough times. We're all over the barrel some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/the-mark-of-the-man-is-how-he-responds-to-situations-you-re-not-going/)

[Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/)

> [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/)

[Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/)

> [Because Techstars is an intensely productive three-month program in which product development and iteration are primary goals, we're constantly looking to streamline our program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/because-techstars-is-an-intensely-productive-three-month-program-in/)

[David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/)

> [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/)

[Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/)

> [Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/last-but-not-least-avoid-cliches-like-the-plague/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [When I was younger, I used humour as a tool to avoid getting too serious with people - if there was deep emotional stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/when-i-was-younger-i-used-humour-as-a-tool-to-avoid-getting-too/)

[Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/)

> [I'm quite tactile, so I like fabrics that feel good. I try to avoid fabrics that crease - especially with my son. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-m-quite-tactile-so-i-like-fabrics-that-feel-good-i-try-to-avoid/)

[Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/)

[Browse all 985 Avoid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can save the lives and protect the health of millions. Their consumption can bring huge benefits, by helping patients to avoid infection and preventing serious damage to the economies of families, nations and even humanity at large.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Pogge"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/medicines-are-unusual-commodities-important-drugs-can-save-the-lives/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Avoid"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/medicines-are-unusual-commodities-important-drugs-can-save-the-lives/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/thomas-pogge-7757_avoid_medicines-are-unusual-commodities-import_1754564.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs can save the lives and protect the health of millions…” — Thomas Pogge",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Thomas Pogge",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Medicines are unusual commodities. Important drugs...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/medicines-are-unusual-commodities-important-drugs-can-save-the-lives/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/medicines-are-unusual-commodities-important-drugs-can-save-the-lives/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
