Canadian Pharmaceutical Import Idea

Question

Backstory ... three months ago my gastroenterologist prescribed me some medication to calm my inflammed colon. I took this prescription to Walmart and the next day I went to pick up my meds. One month supply ran over $1000 and I have health insurance. I looked at them like they were crazy, I wasn't buying a TV, I was just buying some digestive system meds. Needless to say something is serously out of balance regarding this industry.

I think this is a good place to start in terms of healthcare reform is addressing presecription drug prices first. Instead trying to determine whether expanding/building Obamacare or going to a single payer system like Medicare for All or any other possibility down the road ... controlling these ridiculous prescriptions drugs is necessary. It doesn't make any sense that these American pharmaceutical companies headquartered here produce drugs for the entire world for pennies on the dollar yet screw their own countrymen buy selling drugs 10X more. If anything that should be reversed ... the business model is @ss backwards. If you're looking for evidence that politicians do not represent their constituents, look no further. This is where republican and democratic voters can unite and demand drug price reform/control and vote out politicians that are not looking out for the best interests of its citizens.

cave0707 · Answer

Backstory ... three months ago my gastroenterologist prescribed me some medication to calm my inflammed colon. I took this prescription to Walmart and the next day I went to pick up my meds. One month supply ran over $1000 and I have health insurance. I looked at them like they were crazy, I wasn't buying a TV, I was just buying some digestive system meds. Needless to say something is serously out of balance regarding this industry.

I think this is a good place to start in terms of healthcare reform is addressing presecription drug prices first. Instead trying to determine whether expanding/building Obamacare or going to a single payer system like Medicare for All or any other possibility down the road ... controlling these ridiculous prescriptions drugs is necessary. It doesn't make any sense that these American pharmaceutical companies headquartered here produce drugs for the entire world for pennies on the dollar yet screw their own countrymen buy selling drugs 10X more. If anything that should be reversed ... the business model is @ss backwards. If you're looking for evidence that politicians do not represent their constituents, look no further. This is where republican and democratic voters can unite and demand drug price reform/control and vote out politicians that are not looking out for the best interests of its citizens.

Raiders22 · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by cave0707]  Backstory ... three months ago my gastroenterologist prescribed me some medication to calm my inflammed colon.  I took this prescription to Walmart and the next day I went to pick up my meds.  One month supply ran over $1000 and I have health insurance.  I looked at them like they were crazy, I wasn&#x27;t buying a TV, I was just buying some digestive system meds.  Needless to say something is serously out of balance regarding this industry.&#xD;&#xA;I think this is a good place to start in terms of healthcare reform is addressing presecription drug prices first.  Instead trying to determine whether expanding/building Obamacare or going to a single payer system like Medicare for All or any other possibility down the road ... controlling these ridiculous prescriptions drugs is necessary.  It doesn&#x27;t make any sense that these American pharmaceutical companies headquartered here produce drugs for the entire world for pennies on the dollar yet screw their own countrymen buy selling drugs 10X more.  If anything that should be reversed ... the business model is @ss backwards.  If you&#x27;re looking for evidence that politicians do not represent their constituents, look no further.  This is where republican and democratic voters can unite and demand drug price reform/control and vote out politicians that are not looking out for the best interests of its citizens.  [/Quote]I am sorry that you are having to go through this.  But there are good arguments against regulating prices too much.  For example, this article points out some of them.  https://www.drugcostfacts.org/drug-pricing-regulationsNew drugs come form the US for a reason.  This points out the possibility if the government tries to negotiate the prices, etc.https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2018/01/24/should-the-federal-government-negotiate-drug-prices/#741e74e81bb9It is very, very bad for some folks that have a rare situation or a situation that is chronic.  I realize that.  But, look at the advances we have made in the last several decades and the way the prices eventually work their way down somewhat.  You certainly can make an argument, like the first guy does, that you do not want to stymie the development of future drugs.It is indeed a very tricky and burdensome thing to deal with.  But, for sure, we are living much longer lives now -- even with chronic conditions that were not able to even be treated before.

thirdperson · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by cave0707]  &#xD;&#xA;I think this is a good place to start in terms of healthcare reform is addressing presecription drug prices first.  Instead trying to determine whether expanding/building Obamacare or going to a single payer system like Medicare for All or any other possibility down the road ... controlling these ridiculous prescriptions drugs is necessary.    [/Quote]Drugs account for 12% of total healthcare costs.  More important to reform US healthcare system which is the most unaffordable in the world with millions of Americans under or uninsured.  In other countries, government intervention to control costs is why total spending is less.  Universal healthcare systems allow for wider coverage and lower costs.  But sabotage of Obamacare increases costs and reduces coverage according to Congress budget office.  Lowering drug prices won&#x27;t be easy.  Market competition is less effective because sick patients have less power than government in negotiating prices.  Doubtful whether more transparency in drug pricing for comparisons would help?  Importing drugs from other countries is a bandaid solution.  Canada has some drug shortages and is ill equipped to serve US market which is 10 times larger. One proposal that might help comes from US department of health. Redirect $150 billion of drug rebates to medicare and medicaid patients at prescription counter instead of insurance companies.

wallstreetcappers · Answer

Isnt it kind of stupid that an alleged free market economy is considering importing drugs made here back to here as a way of lowering prices? Talk about moronic, how about instead of jumping through ten hoops we address the issue that is sitting right in front of our face. We allow corps to gouge the US consumer and sell the same stuff for less to other countries. How are we just doing nothing about that? How is because our politicians are owned by pharma and bio corps so they stick a thumb up there and do nothing...every single politician does this on both sides and from all states. If BMY wants to offer drugs to a market at a lower price then the LOWEST price they sell to another country should be the baseline of US pricing. See how that works for us. Also, these corps mess with the patent loopholes all the time to keep their prices high..a drug is about to go off patent? Lets modify it in some moronic unimportant way and reinstate the patent again. Talk about stone cold greed, our corps will do anything to increase profits even when they know it is killing/harming millions.

Canadian Pharmaceutical Import Idea

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