Anyone who complains that drug prices are cheaper abroad should realize that foreigners can get a free ride off of American companies’ development expenditures by either refusing to respect drug company patents or effectively nullify them via price controls.
Perhaps you are right.
Perhaps drug companies recoup all their R&D costs from American customers, while giving the rest of the world a free or reduced-price ride due to regulation. Perhaps if we join the rest of the world in regulation they will close-up shop and quit developing new drugs.
I have the sneaking suspicion we are going to find out.
Drugs are cheaper in foreign countries because they can’t be sued. I heard a pharmacy guru on radio say 90% of the cost of drugs in the US is for legal reasons.