Big pharma US wants to sell more drugs in Australia for more and its demands are now entangled with the ongoing trade tariff war.
Pharmaceutical companies in the United States – where millions can’t afford life-saving drugs – are trying to interfere in Australia’s national, subsidised medicine system.
In Australia, prices for pharmaceutical medicines are capped at $31.60 if listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
It’s a far cry from the prices Americans pay. Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug that prevents heart attacks and strokes, can cost about A$2,000 in the US, and autoimmune drug Humira more than $11,000. Sildenafil, or Viagra as it’s more commonly known, can cost more than $4,000 in the US.
A report by research organisation Rand found that US drug prices were, on average, about 370% higher than in Australia and 278% above the OECD average.
#####
I'm the same age as Trump...and I take a similar drug to Lipitor.
I'm living from one govt 'age pension' to the next, no savings left, and with credit card debt.
Pay more? I can't.
So what will happen to me if the drugs I take [like one to treat my heart condition] cost more, become unaffordable?
Yes, exactly.
Oh well, as Ned Kelly said standing at the gallows..."Such is life".
XXX
________________
Australia exports about $2bn worth of pharmaceuticals – mainly vaccines and blood products – to the US each year.
Albanese says the PBS is “not up for negotiation”, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says protecting it is “sacrosanct” in trade negotiations.
It’s difficult to know what else the US may have in store that will affect Australians. The US government will roll out the next tranche of tariffs on 2 April.
It is also winding back Biden-era moves to make drugs in America more affordable, even though Donald Trump himself said in his first term that drug companies had jacked up prices by 1,000% to 5,000% on some products. Back then, he promised to bring those prices down.
“The savings is [sic] going to be incredible,” the president said.
#####
Americans should be paying a lot less...and I shouldn't be paying more!
Pharmaceutical companies in the United States – where millions can’t afford life-saving drugs – are trying to interfere in Australia’s national, subsidised medicine system.
In Australia, prices for pharmaceutical medicines are capped at $31.60 if listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
It’s a far cry from the prices Americans pay. Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug that prevents heart attacks and strokes, can cost about A$2,000 in the US, and autoimmune drug Humira more than $11,000. Sildenafil, or Viagra as it’s more commonly known, can cost more than $4,000 in the US.
A report by research organisation Rand found that US drug prices were, on average, about 370% higher than in Australia and 278% above the OECD average.
#####
I'm the same age as Trump...and I take a similar drug to Lipitor.
I'm living from one govt 'age pension' to the next, no savings left, and with credit card debt.
Pay more? I can't.
So what will happen to me if the drugs I take [like one to treat my heart condition] cost more, become unaffordable?
Yes, exactly.
Oh well, as Ned Kelly said standing at the gallows..."Such is life".
XXX
________________
Australia exports about $2bn worth of pharmaceuticals – mainly vaccines and blood products – to the US each year.
Albanese says the PBS is “not up for negotiation”, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says protecting it is “sacrosanct” in trade negotiations.
It’s difficult to know what else the US may have in store that will affect Australians. The US government will roll out the next tranche of tariffs on 2 April.
It is also winding back Biden-era moves to make drugs in America more affordable, even though Donald Trump himself said in his first term that drug companies had jacked up prices by 1,000% to 5,000% on some products. Back then, he promised to bring those prices down.
“The savings is [sic] going to be incredible,” the president said.
#####
Americans should be paying a lot less...and I shouldn't be paying more!
Last edited:
