Drug Re-importation

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the high cost of prescription drugs, as well as the new proposals and measures that Congress has introduced to combat this price increase. The paper further discusses the aim of these measures and the objections of the pharmaceutical industry.

Outline:
Defining Essential Drugs
The Rising costs of Prescription Drugs
Comparison of Drug Prices
Congressional Laissez-Faire Approach
Re-importation

From the Paper:

"Senior citizens are the biggest consumers of prescription drugs and this section is the most vulnerable since they purchase one-third of all prescription drugs and live on relatively low incomes. (13) Uninsured citizens are also bearing the brunt seriously since insured families pay three times less than uninsured ones. (14) The pharmaceutical industry accepts these statistics saying that privately insured citizens are charged 39 percent less than those without insurance. (15) In both cases, that of senior and uninsured citizens, it is true that higher prices have created room for some difficult choices such as buying food for the family or purchasing medicines. (16)
One senior female from Sheffield Lake, Ohio, says that the medical coverage she has had left after United Health Care withdrew from this county, barely covers the price of just one of her medications. (17) The woman is a 70-year old widow who had to no option left but to take a part-time job to support herself. Another 70-year old female citizen from Elyria, Ohio said, "I desperately need prescription drug help, Up until two weeks ago I worked three jobs, now I am working two jobs. Without working I can not [sic] afford to live. I don't know how much longer I will be able to work."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brink, S., 2003, Health on the border. U.S. News and World Report 9 June.
• Holloway, Andy: The new drug trade.(Rx Exporting) Canadian Business; 9/2/2003;
• Family USA. "Sticker Shock: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors." Washington, D.C. June 2004. <http://www.familiesusa.org/site/DocServer/Sticker_Shock.pdf?docID=3541>
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce. "Examining prescription drug importation." Serial No. 107(135). July 25, 2002.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. "Prescription Drug Trends." Menlo Park, CA. October 2004.

More papers on Drug Re-importation:

• Research Paper # 62797 : "The Prescription Drug Debate"
• Term Paper # 145906 : "Drug smuggling: A worldwide problem"
• Essay # 47623 : "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)"

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