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Articles on Drug prices

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Americans pay far more for prescription drugs compared with people in other high-income countries. Willie B. Thomas/Digital Vision via Getty Images

Medicare starts a long road to cutting prices for drugs, starting with 10 costing it $50.5 billion annually – a health policy analyst explains why negotiations are promising but will take years

The drug pricing reform may drastically lower prices for some of the most critical life-saving drugs in the long run. But numerous obstacles stand in the way.
Canadians pay high drug prices, but the pharmaceutical industry claims it is a ‘key partner in economic resilience, recovery and growth.’ (Shutterstock)

High drug prices in Canada are just one side of a bad equation

Canadians pay very high drug costs, but Canada also does not receive the same economic benefits from pharmaceutical industry investments as other countries do.
The pharma industry warned that if proposed new prescription price guidelines go ahead, drug launches would be delayed and ‘Canadian patients will be deprived of potentially life-saving new medicines.’ (Shutterstock)

How the pharmaceutical industry uses disinformation to undermine drug price reform

The pharma industry claims lower prescription drug prices will mean less access to new medication for Canadians. It’s an old threat that pits profits against patients’ rights to affordable drugs.
Changes to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board regulations, which are intended to help lower drug costs in Canada, were originally scheduled to take effect in July 2020. (Shutterstock)

Lower drug prices are a priority for Canadians, but not for the federal government

Changes to Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board regulations have been postponed for a fourth time in two years as Canadians continue to pay some of the highest drug prices in the world.
For people with disabilities, prescription drug costs are often layered on top of other health-related costs. (Shutterstock)

Without pharmacare, Canadians with disabilities rationing drugs due to high prescription costs

Any pharmacare plan that aims to remove financial barriers to treatment and eliminate inequities should prioritize those who face the highest out-of-pocket drug costs, such as people with disabilities.
Indian health workers doing health checks in Mumbai, June 17, 2020. AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File

Ending the pandemic will take global access to COVID-19 treatment and vaccines – which means putting ethics before profits

The high cost of pharmaceuticals often means only the richest patients get lifesaving medicines. As coronavirus drugs emerge, it will require hard, creative work to ensure they’re available to all.
Generic drugs can be a great way to save money, but a recent study shows there are risks involved. HQuality/Shutterstock.com

Why your generic drugs may not be safe and the FDA may be too lax

As drug prices soar, consumers look for cheaper generics. A recent study showed safety issues in some generics made abroad, however, suggesting that the FDA’s honor system may not be enough to ensure safety.
Could buying drugs from Canada be a solution to high prices for prescription drugs? It’s complicated. Burlingham/Shutterstock.com

Why cheaper drugs from Canada likely won’t cure what ails US

Politicians and even HHS are now discussing ways to allow US consumers to buy drugs from Canada. Here’s why it’s not as simple as it seems.
A man looks at a prescription drug bottle. Many Americans will chronic conditions report rationing their drugs because of cost. Burlingham/Shutterstock.com

Why a plan to lower prescription drug prices should not be piecemeal

Presidential candidates and the current president have all talked about ways to lower drug costs, but experts know it is going to take more than politics to change how drugs are priced in the US.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, prepares for the Feb. 26, 2019 hearing with CEOs from several U.S. drug makers. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

A new way to pay for innovative drugs, provide universal access and not break the bank

As concern grows for the escalating prices of prescription drugs, a novel approach to lower the price of drugs to treat hepatitis C in Louisiana holds promise, a policy expert says.
Policymakers and consumers are well aware of rising pharmaceuticals prices. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Why the US has higher drug prices than other countries

The Trump administration’s proposal to lower drug prices focuses on discounts. A health policy scholar argues that the US could learn from Europe’s system of measuring drug value and effectiveness.
President Donald Trump releases a ‘blueprint’ to reduce prescription drug prices, with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, May 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

No, raising drug prices in Canada will not help the U.S.

The logic behind U.S. president Donald Trump’s proposal that Canada and other countries have been “free-riding” off high prices in the United States is bizarre at best.

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