[cuban leaf]

I heard years ago that many of these drugs are subsidized or otherwise reduced in price in other countries, while they stick it to Americans to make up for the lost profits or, sometimes negative profits.

This development is interesting. A lot of grandparents making frequent trips to Canada to do this just became “non-criminal”

[dhs12345]

Ya. That is my understanding too — we Americans are subsidizing the Canadian health care system.

Eliminate the American subsidy and then the drug companies might have to renegotiate the pricing structure for the Canadian health care system.

Bottom line: is not fair for Canadians and other to brag about how great the Canadian health care system is while Americans subsidize it.

[wastoute]

And then there’s the added benefit of preventing those countries from developing their own drug companies.

[Bob434]

I think more the reason they are so expensive is because it’s so dang expensive here to get them approved in the first place, and because the insurance is so dang high on these companies because people love to sue the snot out of companies-

[z3n]

I heard years ago that many of these drugs are subsidized or otherwise reduced in price in other countries, while they stick it to Americans to make up for the lost profits or, sometimes negative profits.

~~~

I doubt it.
Sounds like spin to me.
The disparity or ratio is probably correct, but my guess is that they make SOME profit in other countries, but MORE profit in the U.S.

But that’s just my cynical side talking. I in no way come at this with any inside knowledge.
I know the pharma companies have to invest very heavily in R&D as well as testing, compliance, and approval, but these companies make huge margins on actual product.

[lepton]

Basically, US drug prices are production + R&D, while Canada’s prices are production.

There’re operating costs, and Canada allows a small percent profit beyond the cost to produce an already-known medicine, but that’s the gist of it.

[metmom]

You can do it mail order but have to be careful that it’s a reputable pharmacy.

Some drugs are MUCH cheaper (Synthroid), and some are not.

One has to shop around but it is well worth the effort when even with a prescription plan, US meds cost 4 times what the same thing from Canada cost.

[Oldexpat]

All consumers should pay for the development costs. Not just the US. It is just one of many deals that our elites let the US get screwed.

[Theoria]

Even worse, we fund lots of the development of these drugs via the NIH and public universities. Then said drugs get imported back into the US and we pay gain. Nuts.