Cost of medicines in the US

[Stoday]

I’ve started another thread to discuss this interesting issue as it’s getting off the topic of the original thread.

Paul.karen said (in the “Stark law” thread):
When we develop medicines and Canada and the rest of the world pay a 1/4 of what Americans have to pay that is ridiculous.  Us Americans pay for the lab work the logistics the ingredients and the trails to test new drugs which can run into millions if not billions of dollars.  Then when the pills are approved for the market we pay (example) Cozar American price $15 dollars a pill  Price for the rest of the world $ 4 dollars a pill.  (is this fair)

No, it’s not fair. It’s anything but fair. On the other hand, I think everyone’s better off for this system whereby the US pays the lion’s share, including Americans.

Prices are set to maximise the producers’ profits. Too high a price leads to a low demand, hence low revenues and lower profits. Too low a price leads to a low margin which constrains profits. There’s an optimum price that maximises profits. That price varies according to the country where the medicines are sold; it's higher in the US than in other countries. So the producers have an incentive to set prices according to the country where their goods are sold.

Maximising producer profits means they have more money and more incentive to develop more cures than if everyone paid the same price. Americans, although screwed, still gain because they have more opportunities to be cured of their maladies. It may not be fair that others get a free ride, but they and others are all better off.

Of course, the price difference only exists because the market for medicines is not free. If it were free, arbitragers would trade between differently priced markets to bring the prices almost into line.

In economic terms, the producers enjoy a monopoly of supply for a limited period and can set prices to whatever they like. The only partial counter is a monopsony purchaser, such as we have in the UK in the form of the NHS.


Can I just say a sincere thanks to US taxpayers? 

[brmoore]

     OK ! Here's a prime example of what is happening to drug costs in the U.S. To go along with my stage 4 kidney problems I also have Chrons disease. Due to having had a Jejunostomy performed over 30 years ago I was put on Tincture of Opium to slow what was left of my Gut.
    A 4 ounce bottle produced by Lilly cost me $4.50 back then. A few years back Lilly sold the product to another company who raised the price to $120 for the 4 ounces. 4 months ago that company sold the product to a company called Marathon who raised the price to $ 720 for the 4 ounces.  Two months later they had another price increase to $850. I woked in the Pharmacutical industry for about 12 years and know this can not be justified for any reason other than greed. The product is 150 years old and nothing has to be spent on research etc.
    I have contacted my Congressmen etc. for help but they seem not to care. Would love to know if any of you have a suggestion as to whom I might contact to look into this price gouging.
   By the way, the darn stuff doesn't even give you a high.
                                                                                Bruce
                                                                                                 

[paul.karen]

This is a good example of the waste and no government officials stepping in.  If the lobbyist pay the right people they can do as they wish.  I mean really it is only the American people who loose out right.

here is a quote.

No, it’s not fair. It’s anything but fair. On the other hand, I think everyone's better off for this system whereby the US pays the Lion's share, including Americans. 

This is from someone overseas who could likely get the same medicine for your OLD original price of a whooping $4.50.

Can you buy it overseas online?  yeah thats illegal isnt it.  Do you know anyone overseas?  For the prices you are paying it would be well worth taking a vacation in Mexico and stocking up a years worth.

I wish i could give you some REAL information to help you. 

[BigSky]

There are some rules that have to be followed but I believe if one has a prescription for medication they can get it from a foreign pharmacy as long as its for personal use and amounts to 90 days or less of the medication and its an FDA approved medication.


One would need to check into all the rules and what needs done to keep it from being seized before ordering though.

[Hanify]

The actual amount paid for the medicines is the same - it's just that our governments subsidise them so we don't have to pay for them ourselves.  So Americans aren't paying more in that sense.

[Rerun]

The example of supply and demand may work with apples but not dialysis.  If the price of apples are too high then you don't buy them and the price drops.

We are on a life saving system.  If we want the price of epogen to go down do we all quit using it.  Deny it?  We could!  We didn't even have the stuff 15 years ago. 

            I'm in if you are!!!               

My point is they have us over the barrel.  Especially transplant people.  They have no choice but to get a third job to buy their organ saving medication.  The drug companies know this... the greedy basturds!!

[Jean]

Canada also has an online pharmacy with lower prices, and you can order that way once you send in the original RX. What annoys me to no end, is the " donut hole" wherein I was left without drug coverage for a month and a half last year. The Plavix costs $162.00, which on my income is a lot of money. So, I got the $4.00 list at all the local pharmacies, moved all of my prescriptions around, and now, as of the end of June I am nowhere near having used up half of my years allowance. CVS pharmacy also has a good deal on some Prescriptions, however, you simply have to fib and tell them you have no insurance. Dont like that either, but, HEY!!!

[pdpatty]

Frosrenol is another drug that is too high.

I have Wellcare partD drug plan. I have a $2,700 until gap plan. I get Frosrenol at Wallgreens. The last time I bought it ,Wallgreens said (on reciept) this drug would cost over $700 (93 tabs) if I had no insurance.With the insurance I paid $39 and Wellcare paid $478 . This was a total of $518 towards the gap. I now have less than $800 until I will have to pay 100% of drug costs and the plan preimum .

By the way,I have not been able to find out how much this drug is straight from company ,before all the MIDDLE MEN add their costs on.

Even the Canada price for this drug is too high,yet it is the one that works well for me. (blood calcium levels are high) So,my doctor get samples from Shire reps and gives them to me .

Yep,I am lucky to have him .

[glitter]

Fosrenol help

http://www.fosrenol.com/Consumers/FinancialAssistance.aspx

[glitter]

The actual amount paid for the medicines is the same - it's just that our governments subsidize them so we don't have to pay for them ourselves.  So Americans aren't paying more in that sense.

That is not true. Americans pay significantly higher prices for almost ALL pharmaceuticals. That why American consumers are so pissed. Your government buys the drugs at a cheaper rate then we can, and a lot of the time its hundreds and hundreds of dollars cheaper. Your government is not paying the same rate and subsidizing them, they are paying a much lower rate and subsidizing that. American consumers just get the shaft. (and bear the costs of research and development) If they made our prices closer in line with the rest of the world, R &D would halt- because who would pay for it?