Without temporary monopolies granted by patents, those prescription medications wouldn’t exist in the first place.

Unless we came up with a different funding mechanism. Joseph Stiglitz for example has advocated a prize system for pharmaceuticals, though he doesn't suggest replacing the patent system entirely.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/prizes--not-pat...

Salk didn't need that temporary monopoly to invent the polio vaccine, which has gone on to be one of the biggest success stories of vaccines and modern medicine general.