Durg prices in US vs Canada

[myliham]

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Why are drugs so expensive in the States compared to others like Canada?

 

[genesis09]

Why are drugs so expensive in the States compared to others like Canada?

In short, the U.S. federal government, unlike Canada's government, does not subsidize the cost of prescription drugs. The U.S. does not have socialized medicine. Also because the pharmaceutical companies can get away with it.

 

[SomeGuy]

In short, the U.S. federal government, unlike Canada's government, does not subsidize the cost of prescription drugs.

Wow, couldn't be any more wrong. The Canadian government doesn't subsidize the cost of drugs whatsoever, it only pays for the drugs of its own employees, and certain very select groups of citizens (mainly treaty aboriginals). The provincial governments provide insurance for their own employees, and those poor enough to warrant social assistance benefits.

The key difference is that in Canada, the prices of most drugs are regulated by the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board, so the manufacturers are basically told, if they want to sell their drugs in Canada, they have to sell it at X price (most of the time, there are some exceptions where they can charge whatever they please, ie: non-medicinal drugs like Viagra and new treatments like cancer drugs). This applies to patent drugs only. Generic drugs are completely unregulated with regards to pricing.