Editorial: Sick of high prices

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 | 7:39 a.m.

In the month since Nevadans could legally mail-order prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, hundreds of orders have been placed, and Canadian druggists are reaching out to not only seniors but also other groups that need medicines.

According to a story in Tuesday's Las Vegas Sun, the Canadian pharmacies licensed to provide medicines to Nevadans have been receiving about 30 calls a day, about a third of which involve orders. State law allows Nevadans to order medicines by mail from four pharmacies in Canada that have been licensed by the Nevada Board of Pharmacy. Two other Canadian pharmacies are under consideration.

The savings for patients can be significant. One 76-year-old Las Vegas resident told the Sun that Canadian prices for her prescription allergy medication is $66 to $77 as opposed to the $277 she would have to pay for the same amount of medicine in the United States.

What's interesting, but not surprising, is that people who signed up for the Medicare Plan D prescription plan championed by President Bush are discovering that it costs more than they had been led to believe, and that the Canadian pharmacies are offering them a less expensive option. And Canadian pharmacies may provide the only financially feasible option for Nevadans who fall into the Part D "doughnut hole," in which prescriptions aren't covered after a patient has spent $2,251. Coverage starts again at the $5,100 mark. In-between, patients must pay for everything.

One Canadian pharmacy spokesman told the Sun that his company also is reaching out to local governments and small businesses, which may be looking for a less expensive prescription drug plan for employees.

U.S. drug manufacturers have few, if any, reasons to control medication prices in this country, unlike Canada, where drug prices are limited by the government. But drug companies might find reasons to do so here if enough Americans - as individuals and business owners - show they are sick of paying high prices for their medications and seek lower-cost alternatives elsewhere.