The cost of medicines in the USA and here
Discussion
I keep seeing these constant posts on various forms of social media about the huge alleged cost of healthcare in the USA, the obvious point being that the evil/nazi Tories are going to sell the NHS to the USA wholesale which means we're all going to die from not being able to afford any medical care.
The latest one is that an ordinary asthma inhaler costs $250. However it would appear that may not actually be totally correct https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/primatene-mist-e...
What's the actual truth to all of this?
The latest one is that an ordinary asthma inhaler costs $250. However it would appear that may not actually be totally correct https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/primatene-mist-e...
What's the actual truth to all of this?
In the US the cost can vary massively, depending on whether you have the brand name drug prescribed or a generic equivalent.
Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
AJL308 said:
I keep seeing these constant posts on various forms of social media about the huge alleged cost of healthcare in the USA, the obvious point being that the evil/nazi Tories are going to sell the NHS to the USA wholesale which means we're all going to die from not being able to afford any medical care.
The latest one is that an ordinary asthma inhaler costs $250. However it would appear that may not actually be totally correct https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/primatene-mist-e...
What's the actual truth to all of this?
The short answer is that drug prices in the USA are astronomical and they are astronomical, ironically because the USA market is rigged internally. If Trump can open a path to foreign companies selling their drugs internally within the US market, it will be a big win for him.The latest one is that an ordinary asthma inhaler costs $250. However it would appear that may not actually be totally correct https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/primatene-mist-e...
What's the actual truth to all of this?
The Trump administration has been trying to do this since election however, the big pharma lobby in the USA is strong.
In the UK market, the drug purchasing industry is not rigged and so, even if US drug companies had full access to the UK NHS market to sell their wares, like-for-like they would not get many contracts if they are in direct competition with the EU manufacturers.
The EU manufacturers also have volume in their favour, they constitute 50%+ of global capacity, the USA companies are around 10% and so if the USA market was straightened out, it is likely that the profits of the US drug companies would tank and this is why the lobby is so strong.
The irony of all this is that in a trade deal, including medicines, it would be the U.K based drug manufacturers that would benefit the most. The USA manufacturers are sitting ducks for competition.
rscott said:
In the US the cost can vary massively, depending on whether you have the brand name drug prescribed or a generic equivalent.
Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
It's just the same here, both with stuff you can buy yourself like anti-histamines for hayfever, or aspirin, or paracetamol, where the unbranded generic is pennies but the brand with all the marketing and tv adverts eg. Nurofen is £££. And with stuff you have to go get a prescription for, an example that comes to mind is the malaria tablets I've had a few times, my pharmacist said if you want the branded one (e.g. Malarone) it will cost £££££ but if I give you this generic but identical one (atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride) it will be only £££. Some pharmacists won't give you the choice though, if the doctor or nurse has specifically written Malarone then that's all the less helpful pharmacists will dispense, for £££££.Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
kev1974 said:
rscott said:
In the US the cost can vary massively, depending on whether you have the brand name drug prescribed or a generic equivalent.
Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
It's just the same here, both with stuff you can buy yourself like anti-histamines for hayfever, or aspirin, or paracetamol, where the unbranded generic is pennies but the brand with all the marketing and tv adverts eg. Nurofen is £££. And with stuff you have to go get a prescription for, an example that comes to mind is the malaria tablets I've had a few times, my pharmacist said if you want the branded one (e.g. Malarone) it will cost £££££ but if I give you this generic but identical one (atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride) it will be only £££. Some pharmacists won't give you the choice though, if the doctor or nurse has specifically written Malarone then that's all the less helpful pharmacists will dispense, for £££££.Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
Cantaloupe said:
Goody, it's another America bashing thread.
My only experience is that in the USA you can buy a pack of 500 x 75mg aspirin in Walmart for about two bucks.
What bashing?My only experience is that in the USA you can buy a pack of 500 x 75mg aspirin in Walmart for about two bucks.
It's a discussion involving folks who have had more experience of just buying aspirin in Walmart, as far as I can see.
Edited by paulguitar on Thursday 5th December 01:44
paulguitar said:
Cantaloupe said:
Goody, it's another America bashing thread.
My only experience is that in the USA you can buy a pack of 500 x 75mg aspirin in Walmart for about two bucks.
It's a discussion involving folks who have had more experience of just buying aspirin in Walmart, as far as I can see.My only experience is that in the USA you can buy a pack of 500 x 75mg aspirin in Walmart for about two bucks.
Closest I can get is $6 for 500 from Target - https://www.target.com/p/aspirin-nsaid-pain-reliev...
Cheaper to buy them here - £0.59 for 100. https://www.pharmacyfirst.co.uk/medicines/vitamins...
What, specifically do you wanna know?
Sure, the list price of drugs is astronomical but it’s rare that drugs (or other healthcare services) ever get bought at list price. Insurance companies never pay list as far as I can tell. If a drug has a huge co-pay on an insurance policy, more often than not, there’s a coupon of some description that hugely reduces it. If you pay cash, normally there’s a cash discount of some sort.
To be honest, I’ve said this before on here and I’ll say it again. I don’t see any reason why people now don’t have health insurance here. With all the things wrong with Obamacare/ACA, that one is a positive.
Sure, the list price of drugs is astronomical but it’s rare that drugs (or other healthcare services) ever get bought at list price. Insurance companies never pay list as far as I can tell. If a drug has a huge co-pay on an insurance policy, more often than not, there’s a coupon of some description that hugely reduces it. If you pay cash, normally there’s a cash discount of some sort.
To be honest, I’ve said this before on here and I’ll say it again. I don’t see any reason why people now don’t have health insurance here. With all the things wrong with Obamacare/ACA, that one is a positive.
rscott said:
Strangely, the cheapest low dose Aspirin on Walmart's site are $4.84 for 120 81mg tablets. So doesn't look like his comment was even vaguely accurate anyway.
Closest I can get is $6 for 500 from Target - https://www.target.com/p/aspirin-nsaid-pain-reliev...
Cheaper to buy them here - £0.59 for 100. https://www.pharmacyfirst.co.uk/medicines/vitamins...
https://www.target.com/p/aspirin-nsaid-regular-strength-pain-reliever-38-fever-reducer-coated-tablets-500ct-up-38-up-8482/-/A-11004683Closest I can get is $6 for 500 from Target - https://www.target.com/p/aspirin-nsaid-pain-reliev...
Cheaper to buy them here - £0.59 for 100. https://www.pharmacyfirst.co.uk/medicines/vitamins...
500 for $3.79. Works out about the same, no?
Or if you want the low dose, circa 80mg, quarter them and you’ll pay significantly less
rscott said:
In the US the cost can vary massively, depending on whether you have the brand name drug prescribed or a generic equivalent.
Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
I recently got a new Salbutamol brand inhaler here in the US. I’d had the US equivalent before. With my insurance deduction, a 200(?) dose inhaler (UK size I remember) it cost me about $40 I think. Albuterol (US name for salbutamol) can be anything from $0.40 to $12.10 for 10 nebuliser doses, depending on the brand name ( https://health.costhelper.com/albuterol-inhaler.ht... ).
Some pharmacists will dispense a generic when a branded version is prescribed, some won't.
I think $40 is about right in the States for a Salbutamol inhaler. I remember Asda were selling Ventolin at £7 for two inhalers a few years back, however they had to reduce this to a single inhaler after independent pharmacies here complained.
For comparison, a single GSK Ventolin inhaler purchased from a pharmacy in Moscow is around £2.
For comparison, a single GSK Ventolin inhaler purchased from a pharmacy in Moscow is around £2.
Drugs prices in the US is a problem that is affecting the middle classes so it is possible that something might be done.
Not only are prices higher, but they are going up with a degree of consistency that is alarming those on regular prescriptions that are not covered by insurance.
Medicines that have artificially inflated prices in the US can be bought much cheaper in Canada. However, it is illegal in the US for people to cross the border and import the cheaper drugs. It's a protection racket. The pharmaceutical industry gives lots of money to one party and various senators and such with the power to keep things as they are and expects protection of its interests.
Reports suggest that changes might be forced on the government in the near future, but many think there's a long way to go.
There's lots, and lots, on the internet from, for instance, diabetics and other chronic illnesses who are up against a choice of medicines or a significant change of lifestyle as a short term solution.
One might wonder why a drugs company would want access to a market that, at the moment, is not limited by a lack of competitiveness, at least as much as possible with big pharma.
Not only are prices higher, but they are going up with a degree of consistency that is alarming those on regular prescriptions that are not covered by insurance.
Medicines that have artificially inflated prices in the US can be bought much cheaper in Canada. However, it is illegal in the US for people to cross the border and import the cheaper drugs. It's a protection racket. The pharmaceutical industry gives lots of money to one party and various senators and such with the power to keep things as they are and expects protection of its interests.
Reports suggest that changes might be forced on the government in the near future, but many think there's a long way to go.
There's lots, and lots, on the internet from, for instance, diabetics and other chronic illnesses who are up against a choice of medicines or a significant change of lifestyle as a short term solution.
One might wonder why a drugs company would want access to a market that, at the moment, is not limited by a lack of competitiveness, at least as much as possible with big pharma.
rscott said:
If this goes through, then pharmacists will be able to substitute generics on NHS prescriptions - http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/clinical-spec...
Most prescribing is done generically anyway on electronic prescribing systems in GPs unless there is reason for brand specific prescribing such as immunosuppresants etc. CCG medicines optimisation teams have been doing this for an awful long time in most areas. emperorburger said:
I think $40 is about right in the States for a Salbutamol inhaler. I remember Asda were selling Ventolin at £7 for two inhalers a few years back, however they had to reduce this to a single inhaler after independent pharmacies here complained.
For comparison, a single GSK Ventolin inhaler purchased from a pharmacy in Moscow is around £2.
Asda were selling these this in the UK?For comparison, a single GSK Ventolin inhaler purchased from a pharmacy in Moscow is around £2.
Edited by pavarotti1980 on Thursday 5th December 09:02
emperorburger said:
Yep, after a five minute consultation with the pharmacist, they would sell you two inhalers (subsequently reduced to one). They are/were required to notify your GP.
Strange as they are a prescription only medicine. Unless of course this was an emergency supply which makes it slightly differentpavarotti1980 said:
Strange as they are a prescription only medicine. Unless of course this was an emergency supply which makes it slightly different
It was big news at the timehttp://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/asda-to-sell-...
Lloyds do something similar.
A month’s supply of Xarelto in 2014 sold for $357 in the US. In 2018 the price has risen to $550. The same figures for an anti-allergy drug were $458 to $697.
Differin in the US costs $226, in Canada, $118. Similarly, Symbicort is $990 and $126, and for Forted, $9814 and $2348.
What the system is currently in the UK is not what the problem. This is obvious. What is of concern is the detail of the trade agreement. None of us know what concessions might have to be agreed in order to get our goods into the USA. All of us know that concession will be required. Of course they will. The USA puts up barriers, and has done for some time. It ignores the WTO.
What state silver will we be selling in order that Johnson et al can suggest that they’ve done a good deal?
Differin in the US costs $226, in Canada, $118. Similarly, Symbicort is $990 and $126, and for Forted, $9814 and $2348.
What the system is currently in the UK is not what the problem. This is obvious. What is of concern is the detail of the trade agreement. None of us know what concessions might have to be agreed in order to get our goods into the USA. All of us know that concession will be required. Of course they will. The USA puts up barriers, and has done for some time. It ignores the WTO.
What state silver will we be selling in order that Johnson et al can suggest that they’ve done a good deal?
emperorburger said:
It was big news at the time
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/asda-to-sell-...
Lloyds do something similar.
So its a PGD which is sensible Not an over the counter sale. http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/asda-to-sell-...
Lloyds do something similar.
This process is replicated in A&E departments with the hand out meds you might get
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