Every day, countless people across America order prescription drugs from pharmacies in other countries as they hunt for something increasingly elusive — affordable medications.
But there’s a problem. Under most circumstances, importing medicines is illegal.
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I appreciate Mr. Levitt’s gracious apology and reply. Would that more of our public discourse were characterized by courtesy of this kind.
Dear Ron and Gabe,
This is a belated thanks for sharing your thoughts on a difficult topic. I believe you both make valid points that are worth considering if the matter is to be pursued. I’ve said my piece for now, so will leave it at that.
All best,
ed at pharmalot
A final point: in the end, the price of a drug, or of any healthcare service, should bear a relationship to its value. The cost of all healthcare in the US is far higher than in other countries–this includes the costs of office visits, diagnostics, devices, surgeries, hospitalizations, etc., and drugs are no more costly relative to, say, Canada or the EU, than are these other healthcare goods and services. Our system defaults to paying for volume rather than for outcomes. We should be striving to shift our entire system to one that pays for value and better health outcomes, rather than by the piece.