Why do so many people want to buy prescription drugs from Canada?

8/6/04 | Susannah

[Susannah]

I've noticed on a number of other forums that people are upset because they are not able to buy their prescription drugs from Canada. This of course, is blamed on Bush and more recently a ban that Jeb Bush made on purchase of Canadian drugs from internet sites. This is becoming a heated issue, especially in Florida, since Kerry is promising access to Canadian drugs.

I've searched the internet and found little information as to why the same drugs are cheaper in Canada (other than the usual rants of drug company price-gouging.)

I would appreciate any comments/insight from FReepers on this issue.

[Susannah]

I've found an alternate discount to Canadian drug outlets which some people claim is a big costsaver and also keeps more USA citizens employed.

http://www.costco.com lists prices for their discount pharmaceuticals and I've been told that if you go to your nearest Costco store you don't have to be a member to access their pharmacy.

[Jet Jaguar]

I think, but I am not sure, the Canadian Govt subsidizes the costs of drugs by making deals withe the drug companies. The Canadian tax dollars keep their prices lower. In addition, The Canadian Govt does not require as stringent quality and purity as the US FDA does. So, drugs are cheaper and possibly lesser quality than that of the drugs sold in the US.

I may be wrong, but this is what I remember reading.

[Mike1973]

Cheaper to buy prescription drugs in Canada. Same reason some retirees move to Mexico for retirement. Just cheaper, less of a hassle.

[GeronL]

Drug prices are heavily regulated in Canada. Many of the drugs that you see advertised in the US are not available or not discounted in Canada because their government has decided not to include them in their coverage.

Of course if the US starts allowing drugs to be re-imported from Canada, the Canadians can say "bye bye" to their discounts. Drug companies will be forced, by common sense, to stop that practice.

[GeronL]

I think the quality is the same, pretty much, as it is here. Of course the discounts will end when that re-importation thing is allowed.

[the_Watchman]

Drugs are patented. Patents protect the drug companies who are forced to expend LARGE sums of money to perform the research and then pass the FDA tests before they are deemed safe for prescription use.

Foreign companies make identical [hopefully] drugs outside the U.S. where they can escape patent laws. These companies expect to gain the advantage of selling the drugs without expending the costs to develop them. Naturally, they don't bother to produce the drugs which proved ineffective. To purchase these drugs penalizes the drug companies who invested in the research and development of the drugs.

[Happygal]

I'm all for cheaper prescription drugs.

In Ireland a tube of Zovirax (for cold sores) is nearly €10 for a small tube.
If I go to Greece or Spain, I pay €3 for a tube that's twice the size.

Madness.

[APFel]

This is how I understand it.

Canada has socialized medicine, therefore there is only one client for US prescription drug companies in Canada: The Canadian government. This creates a monopoly in health care in Canada.

Since there is only one client, the Canadian health care system buys medicines in bulk... a far greater quantity than any single US entity buys prescription drugs.

Since the US has multiple, competing drug companies, it is in their best interest to supply Canada at a discount. after all, familiarity brings loyalty. Say drug company "A" has been supplying Canada with drugs that treat arthritis. They have since developed a drug that treats migraines. When drug company "b" comes along with a new drug that treats migraines, the Canadian government will go with company "A" because they are already accustomed to doing business with drug company "A".

So, if American companies decide to import Canadian drugs (originally US drugs), this will cut in to the drug companies profits. Two things will probably happen.

1. American drug companies will no longer have the motivation to sell Canada drugs at a bulk rate, since by doing so it will undercut their major source of revenue (US buyers).

2. If the bulk rate is kept, the cost of prescription drugs will rise in the US since they must make up for those US citizens who are no longer buyers at the US rate.

I hope that is accurate and makes sense. :)

APf

[GeronL]

Can you get a generic version?

Why is it higher in Ireland?? EU taxes and regulations maybe??

[GeronL]

and Canada does not buy a lot of the medicines that people want. Thats why you'll see Canadians coming to the US to buy medicines.

[Jenya]

I'm curious as to how one purchases these drugs. Do you mail your prescriptions to them?

[Happygal]

EU taxes and regulations don't enter into it. Both Greece, and Spain, are in the EU.

More Irish Government taxation.

[what's up]

That's what the free market is all about...different prices in different places for different reasons.

[GeronL]

There are online stores that sell cheaper medicine... I have no idea how they confirm presciptions.

[Happygal]

If, like me, your main complaint is recurring asthma/bronchitis...you know the antibiotic/inhaler you need to shift the problem.

In fact, I'm so au fait with my own health issues, that when I go into the doc, I remind him of my intolerance to certain drugs (like penicillan). And I know the antibiotics that are hard to digest (for me) etc.

[TASMANIANRED]

One of the reasons is bulk...With the socialized system drug companies sell to the government. They may sell 10 million tabs at a time. Buying in bulk saves you just about everywhere...

They in turn can sell at a discount.

As you know there are problems with any socialist system.
1) If there are 10 drugs for a condition you are stuck with the cheapest. Not the one that may fit your condition the best.

2) The most expensive drugs are frequently not available at all. It is practically impossible to get orphan drugs...
Orphan drugs are meds for conditions that occur in a very small percentage of the population...

3) The drugs most available are those that fit the big bulge of the bell curve. If you fall outside the norms you are screwed.

[Happygal]

If that's what the free market is all about, why won't the Irish Government allow me to import my drugs from Greece?

[Dont Mention the War]

There are plenty of places to go online (mostly Mexican pharmacies) where you don't need a prescription at all, and the prices are far cheaper than even Canadian drugs in many cases. Americans are allowed to import a three-month personal supply of prescription mediciations, so they just shove the pills into an envelope and let it go disguised as a personal letter.

The tradeoff is speed (expect to wait 2-3 weeks to receive your goodies) and a total inability to insure quality. The pills you get may not just be generics, but outright bootlegs.

[GeronL]

Thats what I was trying to say...

[GeronL]

Unfortunately there is not a free market in health care and very little in other industries. I think its high time we allow car owners to buy auto insurance from any state, not just their own. Let competition be the rule.