Except that I'm sure those busloads of retirees which go to Canada every month would still get their scripts at the same price... don't you think?


>>>>>I am so glad that the administration is concerned with the health and safety of our citizens who must take prescription drugs. The president has vowed to veto a bill that would allow prescription drugs to be imported.
>>>>>
>>>>>Could it be that the competition of imported prescription drugs would cause a decrease in profits for pharmaceutical companies in the United States? Gee, that would be a catastrophe. Why if medications became more affordable that could upset a few important people in an important industry, along with a few politicians.
>>>>>
>>>>>Now if the administration would only do something about the imported foods that we eat to insure that they are safe.
>>>>>
>>>>>http://cbs5.com/national/topstories_story_127084203.html
>>>>
>>>>Canadian prescirption drugs are subsidized by Canadian gov't. The first day USA allows import of them, Canada will prohibit export. They are not willing to subsidize whole America, are they?
>>>>There is another side in this issue. Pharmaceuticals are still an industry that has manufacturing on US soil. Forcing them out could be considered as a worthy goal in some quarters, but fortunately current administration opposes it.
>>>
>>>Canada subsidises the buying of pharmaceuticals under our health plans, not the manufacturering or selling of them. If the U.S. allows import of Canadian drugs, Canada won't be subsidising U.S. buyers, so I'm not sure your scenario would happen, or at least, not quite that way. I doubt the Canadian Gov't would care much what prices drugs would be sold at to the U.S., so I imagine prices for sale outside Canada might rise considerably if the U.S. were to simply allow it full force.
>>
>>If USA would import significant amount of drugs then it means that Canadians will either have less drugs left, or Canada would have to buy more drugs (to accomodate both own and US customers). So either Canadian government will disallow exports or will refuse to subsidize drugs that go to USA. Both ways, what exactly US customers may receive?
>
>I think probably Canada would regulate the amount of drugs available for export, and I also think the price for exported drugs would go up significantly. I agree that in the long run, U.S. customers would not be a lot better off.