College students are known for being poor. With the cost of tuition, living, food and other expenses such as laundry that college students incur while they are living away from home, students do not have much money to spare.

Sometimes unexpected costs come up as well, such as medical expenses. It’s nice to know when students do get sick, they have a place on campus that does not cost a lot of money.

Recently, Health Services was forced to increase some of its prescription prices.

While 68 to 70 percent of the prescription prices have remained at $5, others have increased to $10 or $20. Birth control pills will now cost $15 per month, up from the previous price of $5.

While Health Services is making its increases in prices, it’s important for them to remember how important its services are to students. Health Services needs to remember it is the only medical service for many students.

Last year, Health Services received the highest fee increase of all Eastern’s student fees. A big question is why does Health Services need to receive the largest fee increase and still raise its prices too?

But students need to realize the situation could be worse.

Health Services’ prescription prices, in comparison to some prescription stores, had been low for many years. Lynette Drake, director of Health Services, said the price for all prescriptions has been $5 for the past four years, but as costs rise, more money from the Health Services fee subsidizes the pharmacy, and less goes to the general operation.

Before complaining about paying extra money for a prescription, students should realize Health Services has kept its prices low for a long time, so it’s reasonable that they need to make the jump to higher prices.

Eastern students are fortunate because prices have not increased every year, and unlike many other universities, Eastern does not charge the cost the university pays for the medicine plus a supplement fee.

Although raising prices for prescriptions may seem to be another part of the price-raising phenomenon, students still get a pretty good deal by using the Eastern pharmacy.