expensive drugs
Jun. 11th, 2007 04:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
guslMedical care in this country is insanely expensive. I used to blame this on liability insurance, which is in turn due to million-dollar compensation claims and an excess of litigation (lots of patient want their chance to hit the jackpot).
huge awards -> risk-aversion -> willingness to settle out of court -> more litigation
But I've just realized that drugs in this country are (even more) insanely expensive.
I occasionally need steroids like Flonase and Nasonex (it's unclear when I should use one or the other: I suspect each doctor prefers one or the other).
But they are both insanely expensive at the pharmacy, even though Flonase's patent expired in 2004.
It would take some work to compare them side-by-side, but here's a rough idea:
at kiwidrug.com, 1 bottle of Flixonase (50mcg fluticasone proprionate): $21.94
Net.nz (also from NZ) Flixonase / Flonase 50mcg x3pk 24Hr: USD $48.88
Flixonase (Flonase) Nasal Spray - 120 doses x 1: USD $ 13.92
(I haven't been able to find out how much it costs at a US pharmacy, but my impression is that it's >$50 per bottle)
http://www.healthpricer.com/ doesn't seem to work that well. Their best price for Flonase is $31.38.
huge awards -> risk-aversion -> willingness to settle out of court -> more litigation
But I've just realized that drugs in this country are (even more) insanely expensive.
I occasionally need steroids like Flonase and Nasonex (it's unclear when I should use one or the other: I suspect each doctor prefers one or the other).
But they are both insanely expensive at the pharmacy, even though Flonase's patent expired in 2004.
It would take some work to compare them side-by-side, but here's a rough idea:
at kiwidrug.com, 1 bottle of Flixonase (50mcg fluticasone proprionate): $21.94
Net.nz (also from NZ) Flixonase / Flonase 50mcg x3pk 24Hr: USD $48.88
Flixonase (Flonase) Nasal Spray - 120 doses x 1: USD $ 13.92
(I haven't been able to find out how much it costs at a US pharmacy, but my impression is that it's >$50 per bottle)
http://www.healthpricer.com/ doesn't seem to work that well. Their best price for Flonase is $31.38.