$1,000-a-pill Hepatitis drug in USA sells for less than $10 in Egypt

So order it from Egypt, i am sure the Egyptian economy will thank you.

NavyDoc

What? LOL. "No evidence" means just made it up.


Here's the real deal on drug expenses. All this hysterical "evil corporations" trying to rape us for profits aside there are real and concrete issues that need to be addressed.

First of all, it's a bit silly to compare the price of a med that is a third world knockoff with one made in the US. They have no QA control, litigation to worry about, no regulations, no EPA, no OSHA. You might not even be getting anything near the real drug.

Secondly, with a very bureaucratic and bloated bureaucracy known as the FDA, it takes decades and hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars to bring a drug to market, if it is approved at all. That huge expense is passed to customers. The reason why foreign markets can being them about cheaper and earlier is because they don't have to cover the costs to bring it to market.

We, the people of the US created this problem by demanding that the government regulate everything to death and demand that all drugs be as close to 100% safe as possible and if something bad happens, then we want to be able to sue for millions. See all of those lawsuit commercials on daytime TV where lawyers are actively advertising to sue over medications? That too is part of the expense for a medication you see here.

I disagree! The truth is that big pharma loves all of the regulations and trials and costs, you want to know why? It's called a barrier to entry, 99% of the competition can't afford to play the game, so it leaves a small handful reaping billions of dollars in profits.

Oh man, I thank whoever is responsible for the fact that i'm born and live in Europe. This healthcare issue in the united states is insane, these prices you have for treatment, holy #. 1000 dollars for a pill? LMAO. I sympathize alot for people who are in need for these pills, and cant pay these outrageous prices, and may suffer consequences for that. I would initiate eternal pain and suffering upon those who are profiting beyond any reasonable standard on other peoples misery and suffering.

But your gasoline is quite cheap compared to european prices, which is nice.

TDawg61
Yes that about says it all.This country does need a major health care overhaul and obamacare isn't it.
It seems lower and middle classes are financial hostages of big Pharma.Yet another insult and national disgrace.

Let me start by saying I am independent, did not vote for Obama. I am just sick to death of everything being Obama and healthcare reforms fault. This had absolutely nothing to do with Obama and healthcare reform and has been going on longer than most of us have been alive.

If you really really insist on blaming someone you can trace back deregulation laws from the Republican party. It is one of those have their cake and eat it to times. Few people know or realize that the people helped pay for every drug break through in the last fifty years. That is how long big pharma has been getting research money and grants from the federal government.

Not to mention how many laws were passed to favor their bottom line. They have been raping us here forever and just like always we take it.

Do you realize the very same antibiotics you pay through the nose for can be bought for your pets, farm animals, or even fish for pennies per pill. Why... It is exactly the same, comes from the same manufacturer. Next time you get an infection or if you just want some antibiotics for in case go to your local pet store lol.

The Bot

reply to post by Metallicus


Even accounting for post & packaging, seems like a good way to make a quick buck and help others save hundreds of dollars in the process.

Big pharma has a right to make a profit. Are you people against profit? Would you like something better like a socialist system where the government comes in and takes care of everything for you? You people sound like a bunch of Commies oh look big pharma is making a few bucks big daddy government please come and stop it and protect us from being charged so much.

Maybe if it didn't cost the drug company 4 billion dollars to bring a new medicine to market, they could make less profit. And if they didn't have to tote a staggeringly huge amount of liability insurance for protection against litigation.

You guys need to distinguish between production profits and total profits. Yes, it's a big per pill markup. Now, zoom out and look at the time for ROI with that big front end cost. Not so big a markup then, is it?

D377MC
reply to post by Metallicus

 

Even accounting for post & packaging, seems like a good way to make a quick buck and help others save hundreds of dollars in the process.

edit on 26-3-2014 by D377MC because: (no reason given)

Yes it would be just don't let them catch you mailing it in. You could cross into Mexico and get it. Some folks here go over every few months. Go over and get six months worth and just drive back over border with it. They used to go once a year but something changed.

Now something different not sure what happened, it was on Mexican side. Guess they figured they want more money for their cheap service lol.

A pill you pay one to five dollars for here is a nickel there. Same pill. Tell me that is not insanity. Mexico flat told them that are not paying for what it cost to bring the meds into being, just the manufacturing cost plus small amount for profit. Wow, what a concept.... Lol.... The government tells them what they can charge and that is it.

And people act like it would not work here. Of course it would. It cost them a nickel to make certain pill, consumer gladly pay eight to ten cents per pill. Not pay for the research and everything else, no that is just normal cost to bring your product to market.

You see folks, despite the all mighty republicans and ubjections of the one percent pharma prices due need more regulations and to be controlled. All they have proven is they will bend us over every time.

When you charge thousands of dollars for drugs that dieing patients need just because you can it is time to regulate. It is sick, perverted and should be stopped.

The Bot

dlbott
Yes it would be just don't let them catch you mailing it in. You could cross into Mexico and get it. Some folks here go over every few months. Go over and get six months worth and just drive back over border with it. They used to go once a year but something changed.

They don't actually give a damn about it unless you're buying in bulk.

If it's something that's not schedule 3 and it's 3 months or less supply, you stand about a 5% chance of having it confiscated. I've never heard of anyone actually even being contacted past the "we tossed your crap at the border" letter.

Something like this would sail through customs, no questions asked. If you've got a doctor's approval, it's even legal per FDA regulations. Without a prescription, you have that 5% chance of losing it.

I buy stuff all the time overseas. I have never lost any of it.

reply to post by Metallicus


S&F
It would sicken the public if they knew what went on just in physician's offices. Drug reps every day, all bearing gifts. The money spent on wooing could be put to better use. The reps push the latest million dollar baby. The moment a drug goes generic, that's it, the drug no longer exists for the rep. Big Pharma is hungry, always moving on to the next four billion dollar drug. Many elderly patients simply can't tolerate some of the generics--and their conditions, such as cardiac, are not well controlled. If their insurance doesn't cover the brand name drug, forget it. I can only imagine what goes on in Washington. If Obama--or any future prez, for that matter--worries about the coffers, they should look to Big Pharma.

Bedlam
Maybe if it didn't cost the drug company 4 billion dollars to bring a new medicine to market, they could make less profit. And if they didn't have to tote a staggeringly huge amount of liability insurance for protection against litigation.

You guys need to distinguish between production profits and total profits. Yes, it's a big per pill markup. Now, zoom out and look at the time for ROI with that big front end cost. Not so big a markup then, is it?

I think you could add that it's too cheap in other places, because we pay too much to pay for others share of R & D costs.

...and nobody says thank you

Ive always said that the reason why health care is so expensive in the US is because of health insurance companies being in bed with big pharma....anyone ever stop and wonder why healthcare in this country was so cheap before health insurance was introduced? Health insurers are all in it for the money. The more expensive a pill or procedure is, the more money they make...

tinner07


First of all, it's a bit silly to compare the price of a med that is a third world knockoff with one made in the US. They have no QA control, litigation to worry about, no regulations, no EPA, no OSHA. You might not even be getting anything near the real drug.

Well, I don't know how things are in Egypt so I'm going to speak about how things are here in Argentina. You say it's silly to compare them with a "third world" pill but that's just not right. Medicine (along with bioengineering, physics and more specifically, nuclear physics) is one of the strong points of our country. Our level is supposed to be near that of 1st world countries. The reason behind this is simple: it's a state policy. When the nazi germans arrived during the 40's and 50's, our level in the area of medicine skyrocketed and since then it has been slightly below that of 1st world countries. Since 100% free healthcare is one of the duties of the state, they must always spend a certain % of the gdp in medicine research, that % number can go up if needed but IT CANT GO DOWN. As a result of this, our generic meds are good enough and since it's backed by the state, it's not cheap, it's just 100% free. Anything from an aspirin to a surgical operation is free. We even became the first country to provide a sex change operation for free (not sure if thats a good thing though...). This is what happens when the state says that it's 3 main duties are "free healtcare, free education and security". The U.S. may be a 1st world country but I see a big problem there, healtcare for EVERYBODY in the country does not seem to be a priority for the u.s. politicians. And the worst thing is that the u.s. should be able to provide healtcare for free for it's 300 m people. If a country like Argentina, with an unstable economy and a crisis every 10 years can sustain this healtcare system then the u.s. with it's huge gdp should be able to do it. Sure our population is only 40m, but the gdp of the u.s. is insanely huge, reduce the military spending just a little and everything should be fine. Even during the 2001 crisis, the healtcare system here was still working. If the u.s. doesnt provide a cheap affordable (or free) healtcare system, thats not because they cant, its because they dont want to. If some crazy president of the u.s. some day says openly that he wants to implement a super cheap or free healtcare system, 2 things will happen:
#1- The masses that have been brainwashed for decades to hate anything even remotely resembling communism (the same masses that complain about healtcare being for the rich) will start shouting "that president is a fkin communist, burn him at the stake!!!".
#2-The big pharma and their amazing power will get him kicked, killed or they will turn him into a puppet.
So, no matter how u look at it, the U.S. wont ever solve the problem they have with the astronomical prices when it comes to some meds.
This also happens to be an effective way to "clean the streets" of those people dont have a job and therefore do not help to sustain the u.s. society. (I dont agree with this btw)

Our drugs, like most everything else, is being outsourced for increased profits.

NEW DELHI — India, the second-largest exporter of over-the-counter and prescription drugs to the United States, is coming under increased scrutiny by American regulators for safety lapses, falsified drug test results and selling fake medicines.

The drug companies get higher profits, the consumers lower/no quality.

www.nytimes.com... a/medicines-made-in-india-set-off-safety-worries.html?_r=0

P.S India is the second largest exporter of over the counter and prescription drugs to the US, supplying over 40% of the drugs used in this country! Wow!

The World Health Organization estimated that one in five drugs made in India are fakes.

Blaine91555

Bedlam
Maybe if it didn't cost the drug company 4 billion dollars to bring a new medicine to market, they could make less profit. And if they didn't have to tote a staggeringly huge amount of liability insurance for protection against litigation.

You guys need to distinguish between production profits and total profits. Yes, it's a big per pill markup. Now, zoom out and look at the time for ROI with that big front end cost. Not so big a markup then, is it?

I think you could add that it's too cheap in other places, because we pay too much to pay for others share of R & D costs.

...and nobody says thank you

True, but think of it as socialism in action. From those with more bucks, back to those with more price, I guess. In terms of average incomes, it's probably a year and a half in the US, and 2 months income in Egypt. So about an 8 to 1 difference. I'm not sure how Egypt's tax system works, that's gross in both cases.

nugget1

The World Health Organization estimated that one in five drugs made in India are fakes.

This is why you have to be careful with generics. Most of them are from India or PRC.

reply to post by Metallicus

I pay for my cable TV service yearly....
I paid $76.75 for the year which is $6.39 a month. Internet service here is $14.75 a month for home, and less than $3 a month for internet service for your cell phone.
My property taxes are $15 a year.

Elton
Sometimes capitalism is not so great, other times it is...

When is capitalism ever good?

dlbott

D377MC
reply to post by Metallicus

 

Even accounting for post & packaging, seems like a good way to make a quick buck and help others save hundreds of dollars in the process.

edit on 26-3-2014 by D377MC because: (no reason given)

Yes it would be just don't let them catch you mailing it in. You could cross into Mexico and get it. Some folks here go over every few months. Go over and get six months worth and just drive back over border with it. They used to go once a year but something changed.

Now something different not sure what happened, it was on Mexican side. Guess they figured they want more money for their cheap service lol.

A pill you pay one to five dollars for here is a nickel there. Same pill. Tell me that is not insanity. Mexico flat told them that are not paying for what it cost to bring the meds into being, just the manufacturing cost plus small amount for profit. Wow, what a concept.... Lol.... The government tells them what they can charge and that is it.

And people act like it would not work here. Of course it would. It cost them a nickel to make certain pill, consumer gladly pay eight to ten cents per pill. Not pay for the research and everything else, no that is just normal cost to bring your product to market.

You see folks, despite the all mighty republicans and ubjections of the one percent pharma prices due need more regulations and to be controlled. All they have proven is they will bend us over every time.

When you charge thousands of dollars for drugs that dieing patients need just because you can it is time to regulate. It is sick, perverted and should be stopped.

The Bot

I'm not defending drug prices because they can stand to come down a lot but what you just wrote isn't 100% true. There is a cost to bring a product to market and when certain governments are unwilling to let a drug maker with a global medication recoup their costs through additional markups, that drug maker is forced to unload that cost in the countries where they can. Namely the US.

It costs $5 billion to make a drug (accounting for the failure rate of all the ones that don't make it), and most of them are rather niche. Due to patent law they typically get about 5 years of shelf life before generics become a thing. If 1 million pills are sold per year (for a 30 day treatment this is about 35,000 cases annually) that means each pill needs to cost $1000 in order to cover it's development costs.

This is just a simple mathematical fact. As long as other world governments aren't willing to let their citizens help support the development costs of a drug they're using, these costs have to be paid by the US. There is a way to reduce that cost though through public funding. When the public funds drug R&D with tax money some of that $5 billion no longer comes out of the drug companies pockets which means the required ROI is lower. Typically about 50% of drug funding comes from public money these days, which in theory reduces our drug costs by half. Unfortunately the drug companies don't see it that way. They see the full $5 billion spent, and still seek to recoup that amount. This is where we can make improvements to bring down drug costs. At the end of the day though we're still going to be paying, either ahead of time through taxation or when we're sick through medical expenses.

The only other way to reduce costs is to get other nations on board with letting the drug companies profit off of their citizens. No nation will do that though because it's not in their best interest.

That makes me sick!

You know breaking bad could not happen in uk because he would have got his treatment for free lol well USA just another thing that sucks over there