I think I've personally come to a conclusion that it all boils down to the money. Technology advancement makes life easy, but then somehow life keeps technologically better because of it's financial prospect. I think if technological advancement doesn't guarantee money for business business, then we might have still been in 1800s.
I think the pharmaceutical industry is by far the most guilty party here.. I understand that money most be made and scarcity has to fuel need, but it's really diabolical to keep people from getting cured, because of the constant need to keep producing expensive medications.

@tipu curate