Unless the law has changed, then this does not matter. Why? Medicare/Aid are not allowed negotiate the best price for drugs... the first law Bush Jr put in place.
There is a misunderstanding with medicare's role. Medicare does not pay for medications unless the patient is hospitalized. It is up to the beneficiary to buy and pay a premium for a third party drug plan to obtain coverage. The third party plan does negotiate for pricing, not subject to the law.
Should be banned and a criminal offence.
Very difficult because of other laws guaranteeing free markets for commodities, except during time of war emergency, when rationing can be called into play. Here, this is an issue of conscience, and these players should be identified and publicly shamed, which can lead to further examination ala Martin Shrekel. The authorities didn't get him for his manipulation of drug pricing, but they sure got him for everything else where the book could be thrown at him. He became the momentary most hated man in America.
Donald has left him in the shadows.
It varies by country but for example, in Spain you can buy almost any drug (minus opium and similar) without prescription. The prescription comes into play for those who get their meds paid by the government (anyone older than 65) or reduced rates. In Denmark you need prescription for most things last I looked, but then again Danish drug prices are also some of the highest in Europe.
This is why universal statements comparing Europe to the US doesn't play well.
Correct. Spain has traditionally the lowest prices in western Europe and that is due to local traditions and regulations. As for having to order from the US.. dunno what it was of a drug but was there no substitute in Europe? American doctors have a bad habit of being in the pocket of big pharma, which is why I am sceptical. The prescribe one brand as the only thing that works, when in reality it is not.. but they get paid to sell that brand. In Europe that is illegal.
Same as in Europe, there are medications fast tracked for approval in one locale, not approved elsewhere, still in process. I take an preventative anti-arhythmatic medication that wasn't only fast tracked, but tailored for me. An experimental therapy. Here it is treated as if it were a controlled substance. Only 18 doctors in NYS are qualified to prescribe it. There are other anti-arhythmatic medications, but none so effective. It doesn't exist in Europe, tho a similar medication is waiting for additional study and approval. The US version can be prescribed in Europe and imported by hospital pharmacies. Ironically, but not really, medicare demanded that it be made approved coverage by 3rd party insurers because it was found that the therapy avoided far more expensive hospital stays and alternative therapies. The drug, and there is a generic version, cost more than $450 for a month's supply. When I started with the name brand, monthly supply cost over $850.
Big pharma uses more on advertising by far, than on R&D.
Same in Europe, but not as severe. Partially because advertising rates are much lower in general. Smaller audiences.
As an aside, in both the US and Europe, aspirin would be a prescriptive drug if it were a recent discovery. It is one of the most powerful medications in the market place, treating headaches, assorted pains from arthritis, blocking certain cancers, a blood thinner, an analgesic that reduces fevers and more, including anti hangover therapies, something I know well.
More than two drinks and I am in pain the next morning.
