Low Cost of Canadian Drugs Revealed

AP/MSNBC -November 6

Survey: Prescriptions in U.S. up to 80 percent more expensive

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 — Whether Americans opt for Nexium or Prevacid to treat their heartburn, they could have bought the drugs in Canada for less than half the price. As Congress debates whether to allow foreign pharmacies to fill prescriptions, The Associated Press surveyed comparable U.S. and Canadian prices for 10 popular drugs and found the Canadian prices were 33 percent to 80 percent cheaper.

For example, a three-month supply of cholesterol-controlling Lipitor, the world’s best-selling prescription drug, was 37 percent cheaper in Canada. The anti-depressant Paxil cost about half as much as in the United States, while the arthritis drug Vioxx cost 58 percent less. The biggest price difference was for the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal, 80 percent cheaper in Canada.

The figures are from a check of drug prices on Internet sites maintained by American and Canadian pharmacies.

“You’re talking about a $40 billion savings, just in what the government dispenses,” said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., who withheld her support from the House version of a Medicare prescription drug bill until she received assurances from Republican leaders that they would address importation in the final legislation.

Link to MSNBC.

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printed from Low Cost of Canadian Drugs Revealed on 2004-05-26 00:16:32