SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : Drug Expenses
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Augustus Gloop who wrote (11)2/26/2003 3:37:11 PM
From: Lazarus_Long  Read Replies (3) of 93
 
D**N! Will you adopt me? :-)

The US has the highest prescription drug costs in the world. Most new drugs are developed here and are patented, so they have no competition. The drugmakers can charge what the traffic will bear. The other caveat is that many other nations have national health systems that negotiate lower prices for the whole country or simply will make do with older generic drugs if a new drug is priced too high. This gives the drugmakers incentives to lower prices to get any sales at all.

Also, because of the mostly private health system in the US, the drug companies can concentrate (largely) on selling doctors (although, of course, they now also try to sell consumers to get them to pressure doctors). If they can get the doctor to prescribe it and write "no generic" on the prescription, they're in.

The other driving factor is health insurance. Since a great many people have it, they don't see the real cost of the drug- -or any of the cost at all. That removes a prime potential force for driving the price down.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News