The US government recently began siezing prescription drugs being shipped in from Canada and now they are backpedaling and allowing US citizens to import up to 90 days worth at a time. This is the best decision they have made in a while, even if they only made it because of public outcry. Is there anyone who thinks the drug companies should be allowed to make all their money from US citizens while charging Canadians and other countries much less?
2006-10-04 08:21:16 · 12 answers · asked by wwbrad90 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
My_IQ_135 is right and Adam is wrong about Canadian standards. In fact, I daresay Canadian standards are even more strict than American ones. In the US, if you are going to market, e.g. a weight loss supplement, that you can't prove causes weight loss, that doesn't mean you can't market the supplement, it simply means you can't say "causes weight loss" on the label and associated literature. In Canada, in order to market a drug or supplement, you have to conclusively prove that the drug/supplement causes absolutely no side-effects of any kind whatsoever under any circumstances whatsoever. The truly sick joke of that requirement is that any drug/supplement that really was that benign would have no effects of any kind, including the desired cure / health benefit.
Mr.Ed is right about the drugs coming from the US in the first place. As he notes, it's not only the same damn drug, it's even the same damn packaging!!!
Personally, I don't see any reason why the drug isn't the same price on both sides of the border, with obvious allowances for exchange on the dollar. But that's just simple math - if the exchange rate is 10 cents on the dollar, then a pill that is $1 American in the US should be no more than $1.10 Canadian in Canada.
2006-10-04 09:04:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the new book by Greg Cristler called Generation RX then make up your own mind. And it's actually the other way around, other countries would like to place restrictions on sending drugs to the US. Years ago this was a more common practice, but their supplies were being depleted, especially from the elderly, who were getting their medicines at a third of the price. It should be a crime what the drug companies get away with in this country!! The book will open your eyes and it has some really good information in it.
2016-03-27 04:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see a problem with it. Our government seems to think we are importing drugs that may not be what they're supposed to be. Isn't that the case even of the medications sold in the US.
People need to take care of themselves. It's outrageous what drug companies are charging for the medications here. If other countries can manufacture and sell these same drugs for a much cheaper price, why can't we? It doesn't make sense to me.
Sure, importing these drugs isn't what I'm sure these people buying them want to do, but they probably don't have much of a choice. After all, it isn't like buying an imported car, it's about saving lives. You do what you have to do - and that's it.
2006-10-04 08:42:31 · answer #3 · answered by Paige2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The republicans and the drug industry are against it as it cuts into their profits and stock value. Canada has the same stringent standards for drug safety as America does. Sometimes even better so this is safe.
Importing drugs from anywhere else is asking for trouble as the standards may not be very high if there even are any.
2006-10-04 08:32:29 · answer #4 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that the drug companies would be the only ones with a problem with that. I recently became disabled & fortunately still have health ins. Others aren't so lucky. I know of some seniors who have to make a choice between meds or food or rent.
2006-10-04 08:28:47 · answer #5 · answered by shermynewstart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the drugs that Canada export to the US are bought from US companies and still in the same package.
2006-10-04 08:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by Mojo Seeker Of Knowlege 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I'd like to see a law passed that no drug company can sell exports at lower prices than they charge in the US.
I'm tired of subsidizing the rest of the world's medicines.
2006-10-04 08:27:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm also tired of Americans bearing the brunt of the burden for the World's medicine costs. I think Turboweegie has a good idea.
2006-10-04 08:29:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is something completely and utterly WRONG with the fact that it costs nearly $800.00 per month for a 30-day supply of medication. (personal experience).
A friend of mine was told they made no generic for her husband's anti-reject medication (kidney transplant) and she was paying $800.00 per month for his mediation. We found the generic in Canada for $300.00 per month. Now what is any person on a tight budget gonna do? GET THEM FROM CANADA!
I say get it any way you can whether U.S., Canada, China, Japan...whatever.
2006-10-04 08:32:34 · answer #9 · answered by Zelda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes The American Pharmaceutical Companies, hurts the big profit they make.
2006-10-04 08:38:29 · answer #10 · answered by righton 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋