[maui_hawaii]

Do you think they can limit liability overseas (as well as approval costs) because we spend so much time and money on it here?

I am sure the FDA needs work, but in ways aren't they a nessesary evil?

Seriously. Who would want an untested drug from China that could make you go blind?

These other countries might simply say 'if its good enough for the American market we don't need to have a redundant process here'

Could that have an effect?

[JimSEA]

I am speculating about reasons for the lower costs, not endorsing the system although it does have good points.

1. They let the FDA of the USA and Japan do their work for them, they permit roughly the same drugs to be sold.

2. Doctors are the authority and their recomendations are followed mostly. If you go off on a tangent it is your tough luck. Asian medicine is popular but most people back up the herbs and roots with real drugs.

3. Perhaps the worst thing is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. People take cipro for everything.