Why Are The Republicans Opposing Drug Importation From Canada?

[Said1]

Sorry. Sometimes I just can't help myself. I think it's a congenital deficiency.

That's ok, I like that. You know what they say about great minds don't you?

Hint: Free Health Care :rotflmao:

 

[fuzzykitten99]

I'm fully aware of the evil's of socialism, I don't need a recap. I just happen to feel US drug manufacturers have gotten out of control with pricing, what do you think? Do you think prices are reasonable?
Yeah. I'm aware of that.

wow, do you have an attitude tonight...

if you are aware of the evils of socialism, then the government shouldn't have to do squat. besides, the more the government has their hands in the free market, the more we end up spending anyway. SOMEONE has to pay the person (or people) that would oversee pricing and such. You may be saving money in the price of whatever drugs you take, but the cost of someone to make sure that happens, would offset whatever savings you would pay out of pocket. it's a no-win situation.

Besides...how much do you think it costs to research a drug, say, Prevacid? Gem makes a great point. It takes years before drugs are even ready to submit to the FDA. They have to pay the people doing the work, as well as for supplies and tools, and fees to even submit the drug to the FDA. How much do these companies take in as profit until the drug is available for sale? Hm?

$0.00

Really, the cost of the drugs that are out, based on what was spent on them just to develop them, to me seems pretty comparable. What is charged is part of the recoup of the work that went into it, and then some for profit to put into researching the next cancer drug, or the next heart drug.

How much do you think a 30 day supply of Prevacid SHOULD cost? What do you think drug companies SHOULD make as far as profit? Who are you to say they are making too much? Yes, prices are going up, but so are gas prices, food prices, clothing prices, etc. That's life. I'm surprised the cost of drugs isn't higher in relation to what goes into them. Now medical insurance...that's a whole other thread.

 

[DKSuddeth]

When one capsule of a medication costs $20 in the US but only $7 in Canada and the pharma company is STILL making a profit on the canadian sales, it should be blatantly obvious what country is supporting the R&D.

 

[no1tovote4]

When one capsule of a medication costs $20 in the US but only $7 in Canada and the pharma company is STILL making a profit on the canadian sales, it should be blatantly obvious what country is supporting the R&D.

It is true that Americans are subsidizing the lower prices in Canada. However the only way to equalize that would be to either force them to give us the same pricing or to simply allow Americans to purchase drugs that are verified to come from Canada. The only difference we have is making sure that they are verified to come from there. Most of the purchases for those drugs are online, and not everybody is purchasing drugs from Canada. The site may say so, but the drugs may be from another country.

It must be verifiable, then the allowance should be made. After that, the Drug Companies will have to equalize the pricing as it cannot be cost effective to have people purchasing cheap drugs after they have been shipped from here to there. Shipping costs are usually among the highest costs of a company of that type.

 

[Said1]

No I don't have an attitude, your tone was very obvious, which tells me a lot about your how you perceive yourself - which is having the need to inform the dumb little Canadian about how "things" work.

Secondly, if you think affordable medication is going to set off some sort of crisis within the research and development sectors of drug manufacturers, that's silly. Affordable medication is not an expectation that is unreasonable, nor does it imply people are leeches if they can't afford it.

I asked you some fairly reasonable questions which you did not answer either. How much to you think 500 mg of amoxicillan should cost? That's the stuff doctors perscribe for things like strep throat (SP) I pay $14.00 CND cash out of my pocket. What would you pay? Just curious, no attitude here. And please spare the economics lessons.

 

[Said1]

It is true that Americans are subsidizing the lower prices in Canada. However the only way to equalize that would be to either force them to give us the same pricing or to simply allow Americans to purchase drugs that are verified to come from Canada. The only difference we have is making sure that they are verified to come from there. Most of the purchases for those drugs are online, and not everybody is purchasing drugs from Canada. The site may say so, but the drugs may be from another country.

It must be verifiable, then the allowance should be made. After that, the Drug Companies will have to equalize the pricing as it cannot be cost effective to have people purchasing cheap drugs after they have been shipped from here to there. Shipping costs are usually among the highest costs of a company of that type.

There are also patent issues involved with pricing, which I know very little about.

 

[NATO AIR]

oh i also forget these are the same jokers who have AIDS drugs but for years refused to sell them at affordable prices to the dying.... if that tells you anything about their morals or business sense, you'll see why they're now fighting to the death to prevent americans from being able to import drugs from canada.

it is not an issue of profits affecting the R&D. the great lie is that they need the profits to have the R&D, when in reality they're using public labs and public funding to develop new drugs (which they haven't created many of lately).

this is an industry out of control that needs to be brought to heel. its causing undue stress to the american people and government, and i'm sorry, that is simply not acceptable, not even to this fervent free market capitalist.

 

[Said1]

oh i also forget these are the same jokers who have AIDS drugs but for years refused to sell them at affordable prices to the dying.... if that tells you anything about their morals or business sense, you'll see why they're now fighting to the death to prevent americans from being able to import drugs from canada.

Canada has extensive patents on many essential prescription drugs, even though they aren't being manufactured in Canada. I'm lacking on details, but Cuba and Canada were at the WTO over patent issues, apparently Cuba has a decent R&D sector, only they are unable to produce and sell generic meds due to elaborate Canadian patents.

Canadian on-line druggist aren't only purchasing meds directly from American pharmaceutical companies either. USA made meds are being purchased largely from "off-shore" third partly distributors who are buying in bulk from USA manufacturers. This may help reduce costs for some, but if American's are being charged more for drugs in order to make up for lost profits as a result of selling so much for so little, I thinks that's wrong (as are needless extensive Canadian patents).

 

[dilloduck]

Canada has extensive patents on many essential prescription drugs, even though they aren't being manufactured in Canada. I'm lacking on details, but Cuba and Canada were at the WTO over patent issues, apparently Cuba has a decent R&D sector, only they are unable to produce and sell generic meds due to elaborate Canadian patents.

Canadian on-line druggist aren't only purchasing meds directly from American pharmaceutical companies either. USA made meds are being purchased largely from "off-shore" third partly distributors who are buying in bulk from USA manufacturers. This may help reduce costs for some, but if American's are being charged more for drugs in order to make up for lost profits as a result of selling so much for so little, I thinks that's wrong (as are needless extensive Canadian patents).

I did a little Googling on this issue and it appears a combination of factors are involved and it's not neccessarily just the Republicans who are against. It was a bi-partisan bill in 1987 that made importation from Canada illegal and both parties receive beaucoup bucks form lobbiest. Gonna take a bi-partisan effort to fix it and these parties won't do crap with each other right now.

 

[Said1]

I did a little Googling on this issue and it appears a combination of factors are involved and it's not neccessarily just the Republicans who are against. It was a bi-partisan bill in 1987 that made importation from Canada illegal and both parties receive beaucoup bucks form lobbiest. Gonna take a bi-partisan effort to fix it and these parties won't do crap with each other right now.

Your right, it's not as cut and dry as one might think.

 

[dilloduck]

Your right, it's not as cut and dry as one might think.

They also passed a law that allows people to patent discoveries made using federal research money so basically our tax money is funding individuals and companies that turn around and charge us big time money for what we funded to develop--how about them apples???

 

[Said1]

They also passed a law that allows people to patent discoveries made using federal research money so basically our tax money is funding individuals and companies that turn around and charge us big time money for what we funded to develop--how about them apples???

I thought that would be par for the course, I mean Canadians do it for the most part.

 

[no1tovote4]

I thought that would be par for the course, I mean Canadians do it.

Are Canadian made and patented drugs cheaper here, or do they fleece us as well? Does anybody know. I am not trying to be insulting here, just actually wanting to know.

 

[Said1]

Are Canadian made and patented drugs cheaper here, or do they fleece us as well? Does anybody know. I am not trying to be insulting here, just actually wanting to know.

There are no US controls on drug pricing as there is in Canada. The main issue with Canadian patents are the length they apply to drugs. This prevents countries from making less expensive generic brands. This doesn't dictate the price they charge, so who knows if they will sell it to their people for reasonable prices. Patents are a bigger issue with poorer nations who are ready to make their own generic drugs, but can't due to rediculous patents.

 

[dilloduck]

I thought that would be par for the course, I mean Canadians do it.

I have no problem if the govt is funding R&D. The problem I have is the profit margin and allowing them to enter the world of protected patents ,etc. The result is that the govt. pays for all the risks and losses while the companies only reap the rewards. It's like a college loan that goes unpaid .

 

[Said1]

I have no problem if the govt is funding R&D. The problem I have is the profit margin and allowing them to enter the world of protected patents ,etc. The result is that the govt. pays for all the risks and losses while the companies only reap the rewards. It's like a college loan that goes unpaid .

How much are basic meds where you are Dillo?

 

[dilloduck]

How much are basic meds where you are Dillo?

I really have no idea as I don't know anyone who uses any regularly. I just hear general comments on how expensive they are. I think the demand to feel good all the time (and immediately) has an effect how much companies can charge. That along with Dr kickbacks for promoting certain drugs when a cheaper madication may work just as well.

 

[Said1]

I really have no idea as I don't know anyone who uses any regularly. I just hear general comments on how expensive they are. I think the demand to feel good all the time (and immediately) has an effect how much companies can charge. That along with Dr kickbacks for promoting certain drugs when a cheaper madication may work just as well.

I meant for treating basic things like bronchitis.

 

[no1tovote4]

I meant for treating basic things like bronchitis.

I still don't know. My insurance assures me that I only pay $10 at most for any drug, most of the time less. I only pay 10% of my drug costs and most of the time it is below the $10 maximum usually much below.

Since I don't get sick often, I take advantage of this very little. Even my kids and wife hardly ever do anything but well-care visits for the kids. We are just a healthy bunch.