We Pay More for Drugs. Do We Get More?
A contributor to higher U.S. per capita drug spending is faster uptake of new and more expensive prescription drugs in the United States relative to other countries. In contrast, the other OECD countries employed mechanisms such as health technology assessment and restrictions on patients’ eligibility for new prescription drugs, and they required strict evidence of the value of new drugs.
Source: Health Affairs.
Perhaps if we stopped offering physicians a commission to use certain drugs… Perhaps that’s why I felt like I was buying a used car every time I went in for a check up.
Just like everything else, we’re the stomping grounds for expensive goods — the generic brands which are often just as effective at a fraction of the cost are then distributed abroad.
I am divided in this issue. At one level, I want more drugs to be available and more flexibility in terms of how we use them. But at the same time, I don’t think it is necessary to pay a high price for a brand when there are generic alternatives.
I welcome more drugs and more freedom in experimenting with them.
It’s all part of the mentality that if the doctor is not subscribing you some type of drug when you go in, then the doctor is not actually treating you.
@ Patel
Be careful, lets not be a drug addicted nation. It is important to bear in mind that there are alternatives to what just drug therapies.
Drug therapy continues to be the most cost effective way to treat most diseases, and therefore, it is important we try to improve on this process.
I feel like some of the brand drugs may work more effectively for people who have a harder time adjusting to generic drug.
Or, we could, you know, legalize more drugs. Privatize the FDA.
The United States consumes about half the drugs taken around the world (at least in terms of revenue). We spend more, and we arguably get more. Many of the drug molecules consumed worldwide would not be available otherwise. The U.S. develops the drugs; U.S. consumers and taxpayers finance drug development by paying higher prices. If United States residents refused to pay prices higher than the rest of the developed world, other countries might step up and pay higher prices. However, that is doubtful. New drugs are costly and the lack of new drugs doesn’t stretch states health budgets. Voters cannot complain about a lack of access to drugs that do not exist.
Drug dependency in this country makes it a whole lot easier for prices to remain high, not to mention how our health care system works.
The medical drug industry has become such a mess, just imagine what would happen if half of the drugs out there were cut.
I wish I could get in on the commission mentioned by the first poster, Jack. Seriously – were can I find information on how I personally can benefit from my prescribing habits? I’ve had a lunch or two in my day – is that the commission of which you speak? Is there some secret society I’m missing out on? Please – give me a lead on this treasure I’m missing out on because I’m sure that then I wouldn’t mind doing all those prior auths that I so efficiently avoid doing now by sticking to generics whenever possible.