Why are Canadian drugs cheaper

[jebartle]

when the drugs are made here in the good ole USA?

[billethkid]

I don't know the answer in fact, however, I would bet it has to do with the rate of pillage, rape and plunder of a patient is allowed.

We know that here in the USA pharmaceuticals companies welfare come way way WAY before the patient.

Good example: $700 per month cancer med comes through Canad for $119 shipped to the door for a generic. The generic and the name brand are both made here in the USA....the US patents allow the maker to keep generics off the market for a too long period of time. And I for one do not accept the notion they are recovering their investment....not when the companies continue to apply for extensions and get them. And the companies earnings are continuing to SPIRAL upward.

The USA has a funny way of threating their people that is just not done in other countries. Yup it sure does have to do with politics/special interest and getting re-elected.

[charlie_marie]

The Canadian government puts a cap, or ceiling, on the amount that drug companies can charge pharmacies and other distributors of drugs. This reduces the wholesale cost of medication for most organizations throughout Canada by about five percent. The prices are determined by Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. Since drugstores pay less for many medications, they can sell them for less.

[Paper1]

Too much profit, unearned income, and underearned income in American medical system. We really have a feeding frenzy happening but no seems to care as our children and grandchildren are going to be stuck picking up tab. It really is disgraceful.

[jebartle]

Just happened to talk to another Canadian and they said the same thing.
Such a shame that Drug companies can still make a profit sending Canadians the medication, why not take care of Americans first....How can Americans fight the GIANTS!....I for one, will send another letter to Merck and I'm sure it will find the circular file as all the ones b4 and one to Congress also!...There must be a way!



The Canadian government puts a cap, or ceiling, on the amount that drug companies can charge pharmacies and other distributors of drugs. This reduces the wholesale cost of medication for most organizations throughout Canada by about five percent. The prices are determined by Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. Since drugstores pay less for many medications, they can sell them for less.

[Hancle704]

It wasn't long ago that seniors were cautioned about taking buses to Canada to have their prescriptions filled. All kinds of warnings and scares about lack of FDA approval and no idea where drugs came from. Here it is several years later and the last migraine medicine my wife received from our Silver Script Prescription D Plan of her a 90 day supply came from Dr. Reddy's in India. Amazing now that 80% is paid by Plan that it matters not at all where the drugs come from or what level of government inspection was or wasn't utilized.

[KayakerNC]

Meds are cheaper in Mexico too....and better beaches. :cold:

[mrsanborn]

I don't know the answer in fact, however, I would bet it has to do with the rate of pillage, rape and plunder of a patient is allowed.

We know that here in the USA pharmaceuticals companies welfare come way way WAY before the patient.

Good example: $700 per month cancer med comes through Canad for $119 shipped to the door for a generic. The generic and the name brand are both made here in the USA....the US patents allow the maker to keep generics off the market for a too long period of time. And I for one do not accept the notion they are recovering their investment....not when the companies continue to apply for extensions and get them. And the companies earnings are continuing to SPIRAL upward.

Don't get me started on cancer drugs. Oncology practices make roughly 40% to 80% dispensing drugs. Here's some prices that will show the difference in prices here in the good ole USA

Temodar/Xeloda - $5451.80 at Publix of which I paid $1126.77, $2797.48 at CVS/Caremark

Afinitor - $9331.23 at CVS/Caremark; Sandosatin LAR (injectable) $8070.00 at oncology practice, $4059.19 delivered to practice from CVS/Caremark. Thank GOD we don't pay those prices but they are charged to the insurance company! All those drugs are only a 28 day supply. I don't know what they would cost in Canada, but I have to find out.

[zonerboy]

Maybe in Canada there are fewer lawyers fishing for clients on TV to sue drug companies.

[village dreamer]

don't you know.................everything is better up north!!!!

[dplars]

After paying the full price for Plavix here (US) a nurse recommended bigmountiandrugs.com and was amazed at the difference $40 for a 200 day supply. Good luck.

[tomjbud]

Because our politicians (both parties) are bought and paid for by the big drug and insurance companies!

[GMIJFI]

Think of all the advertising for drugs you see on your local TV area and then multiply this across all TV markets in the country. Guess who gets that cost passed on to them.

What I don't understand is why the insurance lobby (who must be as powerful as the drug lobby) isn't fighting this outrageous pricing by the drug companies. Educate me, someone!

[blueash]

Think of all the advertising for drugs you see on your local TV area and then multiply this across all TV markets in the country. Guess who gets that cost passed on to them.

What I don't understand is why the insurance lobby (who must be as powerful as the drug lobby) isn't fighting this outrageous pricing by the drug companies. Educate me, someone!

Insurance companies have made a little dent in cost via a tricky maneuver a few years ago. At that time there were no non-sedating antihistamines available OTC as Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra were Rx only.
CLARITIN TO SELL OVER THE COUNTER - NYTimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/28/business/claritin-to-sell-over-the-counter.html)
Wellpoint, a huge California insurer petitioned the FDA to make Claritin OTC which they did in 2002 over the objections of the manufacturer. Of course the insurance companies don't cover OTC meds and this saved them big $$ while transferring the whole OTC cost to the consumer. Once generics became available a year later then the price plummeted. There is nothing an insurance company can do to control a pharmaceutical price. They can make it non-formulary or tier 3 but then there needs to be a very similar drug at a lower cost for the preferred list. There are huge profits with a blockbuster drug and to some extend that potential windfall is what encourages the corporations to invest in research and development. Profit to the stockholders is the goal (and of course the CEO).

An alternative would be if the US Government would invest in the research directly or via universities and the public hold the rights to any discoveries it is possible but by no means certain that costs would be lower.

[Cedwards38]

Before you get out your flamethrowers, let me say that I believe in the free enterprise system, however, in this country corporate responsibility has been replaced with corporate greed, and thus our free enterprise system has been perverted. Oil companies, drug companies, the large investment banks, and the unchecked greed of corporate leadership care about only one thing, and it's not you. They will happily rob and poison you and your children, and especially your grandchildren for today's profits. I don't know the solution because Congress, state governments, and the major political parties are bought and paid for by corporations thanks to the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United. You may think this is not what this thread is about, but it is. I'd be interested in hearing your suggestions!

[TNLAKEPANDA]

If you watch any TV there are tons of Drug ads that cost a lot of $$$. Never could understand why they are advertising to consumers? Has anyone actually gone to the doctor and say I need XYZ drug because they say a TV ad? Most people go with what their doctor recommends. And as Zonerboy stated all the Lawyer ads for Bad Drugs and law suites add a big cost of doing business. One good law would be to put some limits on what attorneys can sue for.

[KayakerNC]

If you watch any TV there are tons of Drug ads that cost a lot of $$$. Never could understand why they are advertising to consumers? Has anyone actually gone to the doctor and say I need XYZ drug because they say a TV ad?
I have to disagree. I think an informed consumer is a good thing. :beer3:

[jebartle]

add term limits for Congress and maybe they won't be in the pockets of drug lobbyist.. :shrug:Wishful thinking on my part.



If you watch any TV there are tons of Drug ads that cost a lot of $$$. Never could understand why they are advertising to consumers? Has anyone actually gone to the doctor and say I need XYZ drug because they say a TV ad? Most people go with what their doctor recommends. And as Zonerboy stated all the Lawyer ads for Bad Drugs and law suites add a big cost of doing business. One good law would be to put some limits on what attorneys can sue for.

[elbear]

Maybe in Canada there are fewer lawyers fishing for clients on TV to sue drug companies.

Yes, and there are caps on payouts there too ...good thing IMHO.

And when we were there in June, we were buying sirloin steaks from the butcher for $2 each! Good size and great tasting. Ah, well...

[rp001]

There are two suppliers locally that I know of, one in Belleview and the other in Fruitland Park that sell Canadian meds. I've been using the one in Fruitland Park for over a year. Great service and really much cheaper than us drug suppliers.

[Bizdoc]

Maybe it has to do with the National Health system in Canada.

[blueash]

If you watch any TV there are tons of Drug ads that cost a lot of $$$. Never could understand why they are advertising to consumers? Has anyone actually gone to the doctor and say I need XYZ drug because they say a TV ad? Most people go with what their doctor recommends. And as Zonerboy stated all the Lawyer ads for Bad Drugs and law suites add a big cost of doing business. One good law would be to put some limits on what attorneys can sue for.

The cost to the health care system of malpractice is miniscule. Yes a bad drug can be a big problem for producers. (Except seemingly big tobacco) But they tend to win most cases unless it can be shown that the company did not do the right tests, buried information about risks, lied to regulators, didn't conduct proper post marketing follow up. You screw up you deserve to be litigated.

And yes, many many patients ask their doctors for drugs they see on TV.