Reuters: Americans currently pay three times more for meds than other developed nations

[ionelv]

Reuters reports on drug price increases and decreases in the US. Excerpts with my emphasis in places:

The number of price increases for 2026 is up from the same point last year, when drugmakers unveiled plans for raises on more than 250 drugs. The median of this year's price hikes is around 4% - in line with 2025.

U.S. patients currently pay by far the most for prescription medicines, often nearly three times more than in other developed nations.

The increases on 350 medicines come even as Trump has struck deals with 14 drugmakers on prices of some of their medicines for the government's Medicaid program for low-income Americans and for cash payers.

As a perfect example of this gouging, let's look at insulin, a drug synthesized 100+ years ago and whose patent was sold for $1 in order to make it cheap and easy to procure. Americans are paying at least twice as much as other OECD nations for this generic drug. WTF!? The greatest nation on Earth my foot.

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[ionelv]

If there is any consolation, Canadians are ripped off almost as much as Americans on telephony and broadband services.