U.S. to set up plan aimed at allowing prescription drugs from Canada

Re:U.S. to set up plan aimed at allowing prescription drugs ... by rtkwe on Wednesday July 31, 2019 @12:58PM (#20576065)

Canada doesn't get lower prices because they can import drugs as individuals. They get such low prices because the Canadian government is the insurance for the whole country and has the negotiating power to actually get lower prices out of drug companies. Medicare part D in the US can't even actually negotiate for lower prices in the US!

Allowing import from Canada is just a bandaid to make it seem like they're doing something about the actual problem and will only work as long as we assume the supply of Canadian drugs can absorb both it's own demand and the US demand.

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Re:U.S. to set up plan aimed at allowing prescription drugs ... by cal5k on Wednesday July 31, 2019 @01:01PM (#20576088)

This is actually not true. Healthcare is a provincial matter in Canada, not a federal one, and there is no broad-based pharmacare program. Many Canadians have private insurance covering the cost of pharmaceuticals.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:U.S. to set up plan aimed at allowing prescription drugs ... by zjaffee on Wednesday July 31, 2019 @03:49PM (#20577699)

This isn't true, Canadian's have private insurance for pharmaceuticals that isn't a part of their broader single payer system for standard healthcare. As a matter of fact, the current proposed medicare for all bill, would go far beyond what exists within Canada in terms of coverage.

[ Parent | on HN ]