In the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains," author Tracy Kidder explores the disparity in healthcare funding and practices between wealthy and impoverished areas. He highlights the contrast between the significant financial resources allocated to tuberculosis patients in affluent locations like New York City and the challenges faced when attempting to provide basic support to patients in poorer communities. This raises questions about sustainability and the ethics of international health initiatives.

Kidder illustrates the criticism encountered when simple gifts, such as watches or radios, are introduced in health projects, suggesting that such initiatives are seen as nonviable. This reflects the complexities of addressing health needs in different socioeconomic contexts and implies that while expensive treatments are accepted in wealthier locales, similar practices in under-resourced areas are scrutinized, revealing a deep inequity in global health priorities.