Low-cost generics may be widely available in the U.S., but in Mexico — not so much.
A combination of regulatory failures and maneuvering by brand-name drug makers has contributed to a dearth of generics in the country, according to a new report by Mexico’s Federal Commission for Economic Competition. But spurring generic availability could save Mexicans roughly $139 million a year, which the agency estimates is the same cost to build four new general hospitals with 180 beds each.
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To put in context, in Mexico you can walk down the aisle of a drug store, as I did and find a number of brand name drugs that have assumed OTC status, whereas in the US Rx to OTC switching is a very small part of the market. Don’t know how this affects the overall cost equation.
Knowing a bit of Spanish, I would suggest that ‘tardía y lenta’ does not translate to ‘slow and slow.’ Idiomatically, in English, ‘slow and slower’ would convey the sense. The literal translation however is closer to ‘late and slow.’
And to our Scribe, for the journey: “Vaya con Dios. Senor Eduardo!”