Are there differences between the prices for prescription drugs that are most important to Canadian seniors (aged 60 and older) and their counterparts in the United States? According to the Fraser Institute, the answer is: Yes.
In 2007, Canadian seniors paid more than twice as much as their American counterparts for identical generic drugs, says Fraser. Why? The high price of generic medicines in Canada is the result of various ill-conceived public policies that shield retail pharmacies and generic drug companies from competitive market forces.
Because of these policies, Canadians, in general, and seniors, in particular, are paying too much for generic drugs, says Fraser:
The results of the Fraser study find that prices for senior’s generic drugs are significantly higher than American prices for identical drugs. These prices uniquely affect seniors because doctors are more likely to prescribe generics than brand-name drugs.
Further, the results serve to demonstrate that Canadian policies toward health care and prescriptions are not effective, says Fraser.
Source: Brett J. Skinner and Mark Rovere, High costs for seniors: Generic drugs significantly more expensive in Canada than in the US, Fraser Forum, February 2009.
For text: http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/SeniorsandDrugPrices2008.pdf
For more on Health Issues: http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_Category=16
FMF Policy Bulletin/ 24 March 2009
