Life is all about balance. This week's LinkPad highlights articles that demonstrate the importance of striking a balance between providing access to medicines, while ensuring innovator's ability to continue to invest in R&D for future medicines.

• Forbes contributor, John LaMattina discusses the high cost of biopharmaceutical research and development and the need for favorable pricing that allows innovative industry to continue to develop new, crucial medicines.
• A blog posted by the Heritage Foundation cites the success of Medicare Part D as a demonstration of the importance of competition to lower health care spending.
• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) posted a video that emphasizes the threat posed by illegitimate online drug-sellers that may be selling counterfeit medicines. While many patients attempt to cut costs by purchasing medicines online, buying medications from trusted sources is the only way to ensure the safety and efficacy of products purchased online.

Confronting the health care challenges of the future requires a policy environment that allows innovation to flourish, and ensures that patients have access to the medications they need.