The United States has some of the highest percentage rates; when it comes to the cost of medication, compared to other countries. It is 35-55 percent cheaper to buy medicine in other modern day countries than in the United States (Baker 2004). That is a staggering 45-55 percent difference in the cost of getting the same drug from another country. So, are these drugs equivalent and how can one know but rely on the source of where the medication is coming from? Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Mark McClellan said “there is no evidence that unapproved imported drugs are becoming any safer or more reliable” on why the United States does not buy drugs from other countries (Badger 2004). The FDA argues they are not the same …show more content…
By allowing the drugs to be imported even from our neighboring countries Canada and Mexico would cost millions of dollars and put at risk the feeblest of patients. The lack of regulations on where the drugs originate and amount of laboratory testing that an operation of that caliber would require makes more sense to not allow importation at all. Here it is being said again this time by Doug Schoen a Forbes contributor “Imported prescription drugs are neither safe nor dependable. Foreign drug makers are notorious for producing untested counterfeit drugs, even in unsterile conditions” (Schoen 2017). Drugs from other countries are cheaper, however there is health risks involved when the medication bought is ineffective or in some cases …show more content…
Keeping drug cost at a minimum means buying drugs from reputable sources. This not only goes for individuals, but hospitals and pharmacies as well. Being responsible and informed when shopping around for discounts and patient-assistance programs goes a long way in personal responsibility in effort of keeping drug cost low. Former FDA commissioner Mark McClellan said “If we work together, we can bring down the costs of developing new drugs, and we can share those costs in a way that’s manageable for all of the countries that benefit from them” (McClellan 2003). This is a worldwide attempt. So, when people start asking why are drug cost so high? They really should be asking what is being done to lower drug cost and how can they make a difference? In the United States, there is the FDA outside of that there is not much else anyone can do to make sure the drugs patients receive are safe and of the best