Shoreline

Hey SHawn, Do you guys have a regulatory agency that oversees all prescription drugs. In the US it's the FDA, "Food ad drug administration". You can type in any drug , say Oxycodone and see every form it's available in and who makes it. Teva is an Isreali compony and has distribitution agreeements through out Europe, the US and many other countries. I would think with a socialized system, part of the problem may be getting Pharma companies to agree to a federal set price taking most of the profit out of the pharmacuetical buisness. Because of the need to control prices in a socialiazed system is the main reason we don't have a socialized medical system. Our country was founded on capitilaism, Price is based on what the market will bare, In the US , without govt regualation, Pharma companies like Purdue can charge 4 times what they charge in Canada.

The foothold pharma companies have in our govt through agresive lobbyist, campaign contribution, perks and other incentives have our lawmakers passing laws that prevent our citizens from traveling to canada to buy the exact same meds under the pretense that Purdue canada is making an inferior product up north and we wouldn't know what we are getting down south. When they made this anouncement our presedent was surounded by about 15 people apearing to be docs in white lab coats. However I can't imagine how this law benefits any doc, but it certainly benefits every US manaufacturer who contributes and plays ball with every congressman and senetor in the US. My bet would be the guys in white lab coats were reps from the pharma industry trying to appear this law is for the greater good of our people.

The greater good for our people has been surpassed by contributions from giant conglomerates that put millions $$$$ into the campaign chests for our representives next election. Since our reps have sold out to big buisness and represent the interest of big biz rather than the people they will continue to protect any such action that would allow the govt to set prices for US manufacturng companies.

We are the land of the freee and home of the brave where anyone can manufacturer a product at a cost of just pennes and gouge the american consumer by marking that price up 500,000%, so the pill that cost 12 cents to make, by the time it's sold to our people cost 6 bucks a piece. No govt controls over the amount of profit any manufacrturer can make. They justify this by claiming It taks 15 years to get a drug from the drawing board to the shelf. However Oxycodone has been around 35+ years, Morphine has been around for several hundred years and the Contin deliver system was patented in 1972 and that patent has expired allowing other manufacturds to through their hat int the very lucrative pharmacurtical ring.

Check for canadian web sites for canadian branches of pharma companies. There is Purdue of Canada, and I would bet there is an Endo and a Teva of canada too. These are the present US generic version of LA oxy , however using a generic only saves us abut 10-20% on these specific drugs since there isn't another option for many people.

Prices in our economy are based on whatever the market will bare. Why sell a pill for 3 bucks if you can get 8 bucks. Untill our govt steps in and regulates the profit margins this will continue. The pharma companies being the biggest campaign contributers makes it difficult for our elected officials to bite the hand that feeds them and throughs them amazing percs.

What may change is the new meddicare prescriptin program, somehow I can't see medicare payng 8 bucks a pill for anything. So the meds will likely not be covered as prefered meds and the pharma biz will roll on as usual and americans will continue to go without top shelf meds with incrediable profit margins..

Sorry to get away from the topic but it's a real thorn in anyones side trying to comprehend how any dose of morphine could cost $1400 a month.

This is Walgreens on line price quote for 100 40 mg name brand OxyContin
OXYCONTIN 40MG TABLETS $528.09
Good luck but pray for us down south who can't afford any long acting med other than methadone. Many americans must choose which meds they can afford or simply go without. If I were to take the meds prescribed to me for for cholestrol, heart and ulcer, these would cost me an additional 900 a month. All of which I simply do without.
Take care Dave