Canada Doing Something About Outrageous Drug Prices
posted Wed, 26 Jan 2011Ever wonder why Canadian prescription drug prices are lower than those in the United States? Amongst the reasons is Canada has a “Patented Medicine Prices Review Board” that protects Canadian consumers from the outrageous prices drug manufactures want to charge.
The drug Thalidomide, made by Celgene, was originally priced at $400. Over time, Celgene increased its price to almost $4,000 a month—a staggering 900% increase! When the review board balked at the increase, Celgene claimed the Canadian government had no right to step in because the drug was only available under special circumstances. The Canadian Supreme Court just ruled, however, that the review board is entitled to pricing information. And if prices are found to be too high, they have the authority to ask Celgene to lower its price on Thalidomide.
Lee Graczyk, RxRights