[mtrott]

Well, if you want to take an alternative product manufactured abroad under who knows what sort of quality controls, then go for it. The FDA cannot inspect foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Also, there is a reason why drugs cost less in other parts of the world, i.e., that their per capita income levels are vastly lower and they cannot pay higher prices. Yes, we have a higher standard of living and income levels, so we can and do pay more.

Finally, where are you getting this about a “monopoly”? There is no monopoly. Look how many domestic drug companies there are. You have Lilly, Merck, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers, Abbott, Johnson & Johnson, Allergan, Amgen, Amylin, Centocor, Forest, just to name a few.

[Garth Tater]

Well, if you want to take an alternative product manufactured abroad under who knows what sort of quality controls, then go for it.

Would if I could, but I can't because it is against the law. Best damn law the pharmaceutical industry's lobbyists and campaign contributions can buy.

And Yadent's point was that reimportation of US manufactured drugs and medical devices are not allowed. Why is that? If the drug or device was already manufactured here, under FDA scrutiny and regulation, why can it not be purchased in, say, Canada or Mexico at the MUCH lower price there and shipped to your home here? Why? Because that would seriously cut into Big Pharma's profits. It has NOTHING to do with the safety of the drug or the device.