US patients pay THREE TIMES more for drugs than those in the UK

[BF]

There should be a law.   

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3269835/The-transatlantic-drugs-divide-Patients-pay-THREE-TIMES-drugs-UK.html

My chemo, for 30 pills, is about $11,200.00.

That's over $134,000 per year to stay alive.....I hope.   

I don't have the answers, but something has to happen here.  It's either the insurance pay it, or I die.  I have to work until death just so I can keep my insurance. 

Some choice huh?

[Patrick]

I can sympathize. I don't understand it. It seems every country, especially Canada, can buy our drugs cheaper than we can.

[Momz]

Without the help of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation my wife's medication would cost in excess of $6,000. per month.
Her insurance coverage does not pay for that prescribtion.

[csj]

I would like to NOT have this info., but I'll share it. My sister was recently diagnosed with a brain cancer. She's had a surgery, successful. But now she's on pill form of chemo that cost about what you just said. Coverage was going to be refused, but her hubby found a precedent where a FEW people GOT coverage. This info was used to twist the government's arm, and now she's getting SOME coverage, approx 4 months. So, find that precedent.

[PAVALKER]

How much in taxes would you be paying in the UK of you were living there?  I have heard that yes, their medical costs are cheaper, but their taxes are much more.  After all.....the bill has to be paid regardless if it's in the UK, US or Canada.  I didn't do a comparo on it but I'm sure others have.

[Serk]

Also keep in mind, depending on who you ask, it's currently running at least $802,000,000 to as much as $2,600,000,000 to bring ONE new drug to market...

Sucks on the price, no argument, but what happens if we remove the profit motive to create new life saving drugs?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/18/does-it-really-cost-2-6-billion-to-develop-a-new-drug/

[The emperor has no clothes]

Also keep in mind, depending on who you ask, it's currently running at least $802,000,000 to as much as $2,600,000,000 to bring ONE new drug to market...

Sucks on the price, no argument, but what happens if we remove the profit motive to create new life saving drugs?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/18/does-it-really-cost-2-6-billion-to-develop-a-new-drug/

In my opinion the question is , How MUCH profit are people's lives worth ?

[Patrick]

Plus, I thought our new wonderful health care act was suppose to remedy this.

[G-Man]

Also keep in mind, depending on who you ask, it's currently running at least $802,000,000 to as much as $2,600,000,000 to bring ONE new drug to market...

Sucks on the price, no argument, but what happens if we remove the profit motive to create new life saving drugs?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/11/18/does-it-really-cost-2-6-billion-to-develop-a-new-drug/

And these costs are for the drugs that make it to market.  I'm in the biz, and only 1 out of 60 compounds that make it to clinical trials gets approved for the market.  The cost of the approved drugs also covers the cost of the other 59 failures.  And the drug companies have to play Robin Hood in a lot of cases as well.  They have to lower the price to get into the poorer countries and then make it up on the wealthier countries. 

[msb]

In Canada, the recognition of generic brand drugs by the federal government and by insurance companies lowers the cost drastically. Generic drugs are basically copies of name brand drugs from the big manufacturers, whose patents for those drugs have expired. The quality of generic drugs is the same, but with less requirement to get returns on initial R & D costs by the generic suppliers, they are able to sell at much lower costs. Also, with multiple suppliers of these generic drugs, competition further reduces the cost, reducing the chances of monopolies keeping prices artificially high. The key is that they go through the same federal testing and safety procedures as the name-brand drugs, and are recognized for the most part by all participants in Canada's healthcare system.

Obviously the incentive of profit for continuing R&D and invention of new life-saving drugs is important to maintain, but fair competition should be allowed once these costs have been recouped.

Yes we do pay a premium in taxes in Canada to help subsidize a quasi-national healthcare plan (private healthcare services are also available as an option in many parts of the country), but I dont think you'll find too many citizens here complaining about that ... it's just become an accepted way of life over the years, by those on all sides of the political and social spectrums.  

BF, and any others following this post that may be dealing with similar issues, I wish you positive results in your search for solutions, and of course good health as well.

[G-Man]

In Canada, the recognition of generic brand drugs by the federal government and by insurance companies lowers the cost drastically. Generic drugs are basically copies of name brand drugs from the big manufacturers, whose patents for those drugs have expired. The quality of generic drugs is the same, but with less requirement to get returns on initial R & D costs by the generic suppliers, they are able to sell at much lower costs. Also, with multiple suppliers of these generic drugs, competition further reduces the cost, reducing the chances of monopolies keeping prices artificially high. The key is that they go through the same federal testing and safety procedures as the name-brand drugs, and are recognized for the most part by all participants in Canada's healthcare system.  Another reason why new drugs are expensive.  New drug patents run out in 10 years, THEN other companies can make the same drug.  Manufacturers have a limited amount of time to make their money.

Obviously the incentive of profit for continuing R&D and invention of new life-saving drugs is important to maintain, but fair competition should be allowed once these costs have been recouped.  Who makes the decision on how much the drug company is allowed to make???  And what about the drugs they don't recoup their money on?   

Yes we do pay a premium in taxes in Canada to help subsidize a quasi-national healthcare plan (private healthcare services are also available as an option in many parts of the country), but I dont think you'll find too many citizens here complaining about that ... it's just become an accepted way of life over the years, by those on all sides of the political and social spectrums.  The lack of choice must also be accepted as there are drugs that don't make it on Canada's and the UK's formulary (drugs they'll pay for).

BF, and any others following this post that may be dealing with similar issues, I wish you positive results in your search for solutions, and of course good health as well.

[Brewer]

Blame the lawyers and the legal system. Frivolous lawsuits against anyone leads to more costs, the drug companies will not loose profit so the prices go up.

[Patrick]

This is a bit off subject, but, it was mentioned. Generics. Many think they are the same as the 'real' or 'original' drugs. They are not and some have been shown to have some serious side effects that the originals don't have. Been thru it. If a generic works for you, fine. But, I recommend looking into it before swallowing it.
Here, if the doctor writes the script 'as written' then a generic can not be substituted and the ins  company has to pay for it, a portion of it, it'll still cost more than a generic.

A friends wife almost died and now has to use O2 constantly because of a generic.

My JoAnn had a problem that was caught quickly enough to not be a problem because the pharmacist substituted a generic he shouldn't have.


Some may want to say I'm lying as some have done in the past about other things. Thats OK. I'm just putting this out there to use or not.

[Romeo]

Until you actually see where all the money is going, everyone is just pissing in the wind. How many folks are actually benefiting financially, and by how much? Show me that data, and then we can have a real discussion.

[baldo]

Plus, I thought our new wonderful health care act was suppose to remedy this.

It would be wonderful if decades of drug company corruption and greed could be overcome in 5 short years, especially given all the distraction.

[Dougger]

I used to purchase medication from Canada, much cheaper than US, it was shipped from India.

[BF]

Drug company lobbyists have to be playing a major roll here.