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Return to Expedite-Rx Home Page They Finally Got Something Right – Almost Tom Curb, R.Ph. It was certainly refreshing to read an FDA pronouncement having factual substance as well as an element of truth. After years of caving to the multi-national drug cartel by parroting the drug manufacturers’ devious "play book" of insinuations and inferences implying a Canadian potential for counterfeits and inferior drugs, the US agency finally hit on something that could actually benefit US consumers in their increasing struggle to obtain affordable medications. GETTING IT RIGHT - FOR ONCE: On January 18, 2004, CNN quoted "new research by the FDA" as finding that "U.S. generics were a better buy than Canada drugs…and that… Americans who buy drugs in Canada in hopes of saving money could pay significantly more for certain medicines than if they had purchased (the) generic versions at home." (This is true.)CNN further reports that "The FDA analyzed price data (for) seven drugs whose generic versions are top-selling treatments for chronic disease: the anti-depressant Prozac; blood pressure medicines Lopressor, Prinivil and Vasotec; Xanax for anxiety; Klonopin for seizures; and Glucophage for diabetes. Comparing both brand-name and generic versions in Canada, the U.S. generics proved significantly cheaper for all but the diabetes drug (Glucophage)…"* (One primary reason is that, just like traditional US mail order pharmacies, Canadian mail order pharmacies cannot compete with networks of local US pharmacies that accommodate aggressive generic pricing. In a heads-up comparison against such local US networks, delivery costs alone will take both US and Canadian mail order out of the generics market.) OOPS, WRONG AGAIN: However, using the above "absolute truth" as a springboard, FDA’s Dr. Mark McClellan adds a less-than-absolute and incomplete statement saying, "For many people, buying more homegrown generics is a risk-free alternative to imports that could lower their drug costs." Misleading omissions in this statement are obvious – (1) Many of the most popular drugs do not have generic chemical or therapeutic alternatives, and (2) many of these drugs that are available only as brands are very expensive in the US, and (3) despite associated delivery costs, many of these "sole-source brands" can be imported with significant savings. THE WHOLE TRUTH: The ideal situation is one in which adequately informed US citizens import only costly, import-feasible brand name drugs and obtain all their other Rx’s through a competitive US retail network. This option, supplemented with accurate pricing information and a technological interface to enable comprehensive, coordinated central profiling and imposition of patient-safety edits, safely offers American consumers the best of both worlds. Sound familiar? COMMENTARY: While it’s difficult to believe that FDA officials may not understand managed pharmacy benefits, such is implied by the quote that, "The FDA cannot say how big a role generics might play as an alternative to Canadian import for Springfield, Massachusetts, and Montgomery, Alabama – (cities) currently buying Canadian drugs for their employees". It can be assumed that any well-designed funded pharmacy benefit will already incorporate incentives to maximize generic utilization. Therefore, savings from importation of sole-source brands would be a bonus to both financially strapped benefit plans and plan members. Such an assumption also applies to members of discount plans that incorporate appropriate and adequate patient education. *P.S. – FDA referenced a Web site that provides consumers with "real-time comparisons of drug prices" listed in the United States and abroad that quoted "the cheapest generic Prozac in this country (at) $13.19 for 100, 20-mg pills. Abroad, the next best price was $49.78." Wrong again - a much "better price" was in a US retail network - $10.07 – an additional 24% savings. (P.S. - That same US network also beat the Canadian prices on the generic for Glucophage.) |
