Danger: The Active Ingredient in Imported Drugs

GOPUSA ^ | January 28, 2005 | Kerri Houston

[A. Pole]

An outright ban is simply a scheme to preserve the two tier pricing system, and subsidize Japan, Canada and Western Europe for the fruits of American drug research, paid for by Americans who fork over the higher tier price.

Another poor suffereing corporations myth. The medication which I would like to be cheaper can be bought in Europe in generic form for 10% of price. And it was invented IN FRANCE and the pharma company selling it in USA is GERMAN.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Didn't your mother warn you about abusing drugs?"

Yep...and I'm teaching my own kids the same thing...but that doesn't mean we need to justify an unwinnable War On Some Drugs to keep stupid adults from smokin' weeds.

"This is the "Canada is the place to get pharmaceuticals", not the "Free Dope" thread!"

Ain't this thread whatever we make it, my FRiend?!

FReegards...MUD

[al_again]

Judging by the responses - i don't see many freepers for gov't intervention! This is a very good thing.

[muawiyah]

Is having the states the exclusive agents for judging pharmaceutical utility good or bad?

You could ask the same in the field of pillows. Each state could presumably write it's own code for new pillow sanitation (hence the "do not remove" tags on pillows).

They don't. In fact, they have all adopted the very same law. My pillow calls it the "Pennsylvania" la te da. Odds are the uniform commercial code item for pharmaceuticals is NOT going to be the California laws.

[muawiyah]

Not really. If you want to make it the Free Dope thread, we can do that, but first I want to check the contents of your pockets. Please turn around and put your hands on the roof of your car.

[Torie]

The drug companies can't because the socialist medicine countries are monopsonistic buyers. They just make a variable cost marginal profit, not one that covers the fixed costs. The way to break down a two tier pricing system because of a monopsony in one place but not another, is with trade. Simple really. But what is really needed is the Torie plan, which involves the drug companies being proscribed from charging higher prices in the US, except to the extent attributed to cost savings from volume sales.

Bush is a drug company symp on this issue. I oppose him totally, because he is totally wrong.

[Nov3]

The GOP is for free trade...expect when it comes to protecting drug companies.

Amen the idiots on this board that can't see the drug industry for what it is - extortion with government protection.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Please turn around and put your hands on the roof of your car."

Yer wish is my command...just tell me when yer done...MUD

[al_again]

You are free to pay too much to your local pharmacy. I will buy my 'unsafe' drugs from Canada. Don't you love the free-market, people can decide for themselves with no help from the gov't.

[muawiyah]

BTW, that's really cute ~ "in considerable numbers".

I'm all for that provided you serve as the official "taster". I see no reason to put myself at risk on behalf of your ideological blinders.

[al_again]

The drug companies have the option of not selling to these countries. I believe Merck is using this approach.

[muawiyah]

You can believe you are "reimporting" drugs from Canada all you want. The report notes that you are probably "importing" drugs made in the third-world from Canada.

Ignorance is it's own reward I guess.

[Torie]

All the more reason to have a most favored nation pricing law in the US. I had not thought about the issue of drug companies off shore doing research, and making the two tier system cause only one set of comsumers, ie in the US, to pay for it. Thanks for tweaking my brain on that.

[Torie]

Well, that strategy would not maximize their profits at the margin, so I don't accept it as true.

[al_again]

LMAO - Maybe with just a little research you can determine if the company is legit.

You take the word of a GOP press release and imply that I am ignorant. Too funny!

[Torie]

I am statistical kind of guy. One or a few unfortunate incidents does not move me to cause Americans to fork over an extra hundred billion for drugs or whatever. Heck that rationale could cause lots of things to be banned. The list would be VERY long. Pencil me down as a cold hearted bastard or whatever.

[al_again]

You are probably correct. I think Merck threatened to quit selling to Canadian pharmacies that were selling in the US. I heard it on the radio a few days ago and can't remember the specific details :(

[muawiyah]

I have a friend who visits India regularly. He always takes American manufactured pharmaceuticals with him ~ tens of thousands of dollars worth ~ to sell at immense prices.

He readily pays for his trips doing this.

At the same time the local products his customers (mostly relatives and old friends) are shunning can and do get exported to Canada, frequently in packaging that suggests they were manufactured in the United States.

My argument is being counseled by personal experience and not ideology.

[al_again]

As you seem to be in agreement with the GOP on these issues, could you please explain the following:

Why is the prescription drug bill a good thing?
Is the clause stating that the gov't can't negotiate the price of drugs a good thing?

I'm very interested in your response.

[al_again]

lol - posting too quickly. Prior post was meant for you?