Cheap Wine, But No Cheap Drugs

[dgridley]

Under the new Medicare drug bill, Americans are now expressly forbidden from importing U.S.-made drugs available more cheaply from overseas. Here's how it works: I can go to Europe and buy their wine for less or go to Asia and buy their clothes for less; American corporations can buy their raw materials for less from overseas, or they can move their operations abroad in order to hire cheaper labor or management. But in a mind-boggling reversal of the American principle of supply and demand, I cannot purchase cheaper drugs and bring them home.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2004/03/02_403.html

It's ridiculous that Americans are forced to pay exorbitant prices for prescription drugs at home, rather than be able to purchase them from reputable outlets outside the US. I undertand there could be safety concerns but if you read the linked article, what would you decide?

 

[jdR!pper]

Well, America is not the cheapest place to buy medicines anyway. IMO

 

[commes]

That makes no sense to me really, but doing it this way, the government im sure makes mroe money one way or another, and the drug companies im sure are gonig to be making a lot more to now!

 

[franchise]

Yes Dave...the big drug co in the US have a money making machine in place that they are trying to milk for as long as possible. I too understand that you can't ultimately guarantee the safety of the drugs and the chemistry of the drugs when purchased abroad...but c'mon I would think that any company in the UK or Canada that wanted American dollars would be more than happy to have any sort of verification and checks and balance system put in place to "guarantee" the safety of their product. How hard could it be..right?

We'll as the baby boomers age and become more dependant on these drugs and their wallets feel a bit of the pinch, that will be the beginning of some sort of change. Until then....we pay $100 instead of $20 for the same damn thing.

God bless the poor.

 

[bizwiz]

These major drug manufacturers should be more sensitive about the price issue. Not everyone can afford expensive medicine these days.

 

[dgridley]

NO ONE, not even the rich, should have to pay exorbitant prices for drugs and medical care..

I realize there are R&D issues but health, not wealth, should be a primary concern of the drug companies IMO.

These major drug manufacturers should be more sensitive about the price issue. Not everyone can afford expensive medicine these days.