This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog! 
Posted on 08/21/2004 9:49:49 PM PDT by quidnunc
John Kerry, Gov. Craig Benson, and Sen. Judd Gregg all advocate importing prescription drugs from Canada. Supposedly Canada’s prescription drugs are super cheap, and Americans will get to share in these lower prices if only we could legally import drugs straight from Canada.
Not so fast.
Several studies of the price differences between prescription drugs in Canada and their counterparts in the United States throw a big monkey wrench into that theory.
Forbes magazine reported last year: “The notion that pharmaceuticals are cheaper in Canada is a myth, according to experts. While some high-profile, brand-name drugs are cheaper in Canada, other lesser-known drugs and generics sell for less in the United States.”
The two primary studies that made people believe Canadian drugs were cheaper both “compared only top-selling brand-name drugs — ignoring lower-priced generics,” the magazine reported. Further examination corrected for those errors and found that many drugs were more expensive in Canada.
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(Excerpt) Read more at theunionleader.com ...
That's funny.
Shhh! Let's not let facts get in the way of a good campaign issue.
Who do they think they're kidding? Prescription drugs from Canada are half or less what they cost here. I save $300 or more per month getting mine out of Canada. Freep mail me if you want the name of my good drugstore in British Columbia. They're cheap, fast (delivery takes one week) and the stuff is still sealed in the American manufacturer containers.
Of course generics are cheap. What's why they are generics.
However, why do the brand name medications have to be so expensive?
I just checked prices for generic amoxicillin and US prices are definitely lower. And lots of drugs are just plain unavailable in Canada, from the expensive eyedrops that control my dry eyes (not covered by insurance anyway) to basic things like Valium that is dirt cheap in the US and Ambien (sleeping pills I use when traveling). Things like Celebrex that don't have a generic look to be cheaper.
Because in Canada, prices are set by the GOVERNMENT. If a drug company wants to sell it's drugs in Canada, it can only do so at the regulated price.
Canada is a small market, and some companies simply choose not to sell there. Others sell limited quantities, because variable costs are less than the regulated price and they can make money.
However, if the U.S. were to try to "import" Canadian drugs, there simply would not be enough to go around.
U.S. drug companies can't cover the fixed costs of regulatory approval at the regulated Canadian prices.
Ask yourself, how many blockbuster drugs are produced by Canadian companies?
I can't think of any. Can you?
Plus my understanding is Canada is very slow to approve new drugs for their formulary; hence, my eyedrops which aren't covered by most US insurance just plain aren't available to Canadians even if they are willing to pay themselves.
I'd like the name of them.
I take Diovan, and it costs me $100 a month.
I'd like to get by with paying less!
Ed
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