The Global Pharmaceutical Supply Chain and Prospects for Safe Drug Importation
January 2022
Written by Gabriel Levitt, MA, with Lucia Mueller
Foreword by Stephen Salant, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Michigan
Many consumer products clearly state where those products are made. Not so for prescription medications. Where our drugs are made and where their main ingredients are sourced affects drug safety, affordability, availability, and even national security — concerns that have come to the fore as a result of the global pandemic. Yet there is too little transparency and too much misinformation surrounding the supply chain of the drugs we take. “Not Made in the USA” investigates and details the country of manufacture and the source country for active pharmaceutical ingredients among widely used, brand name prescription drugs.
Generic medications that have been approved by the FDA are still not available in the U.S. These same medications are available and affordable to order from abroad.
July 2019
Written by Gabriel Levitt, MA | Shivam Patel, PharmD, BSPS, RPh | Lucia Mueller
Faster generic drug approvals are often looked to as a key part of the solution to high drug prices. Clearly, the faster a patented drug product faces competition, access to lower cost versions should follow. Yet FDA approval of a generic neither ensures its availability nor affordability. In fact, newly approved generic drugs in the U.S. are sometimes not available on the market for years after their approval; and those that are available can cost over eight times more than the lawfully-manufactured brand versions sold in Canada, and ten times more than those offered in other countries.
Ill-Considered Enforcement Prevents Access to Safe and Affordable Medication
February 2015
Written by Gabriel Levitt
A GAO report entitled “Internet Pharmacies: Federal Agencies and States Face Challenges Combatting Rogue Sites, Particularly Those Abroad,” contains critical inaccuracies and omits important peer-reviewed research that could lead lawmakers and their staff to draw erroneous conclusions about international online pharmacies, potentially resulting in unnecessary enforcement actions that disadvantage consumers and threaten the public health. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about five million Americans buy prescription drugs from foreign sources each year for reasons of cost. The evidence provided herein, including consumer testimonials and empirical data, shows that safe international online pharmacies are lifelines of affordable medication for many Americans. While rogue pharmacy sites can be very dangerous, overly broad, and ill-considered Federal enforcement against safe international online pharmacies will lead to fewer Americans taking prescribed medication.
Research on the subjects of international drug price comparisons and the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
PharmacyChecker Research frequently releases drug price and origin reports. Past topics of research include "Foreign Drugs Make Up Majority of Medicare Part D Spending on Specialty Drugs," "The Top 10 Prescription Drugs You Should Not Get in Canada," and "Savings from Canadian Online Pharmacies Increase from 68% to 77% Due to U.S. Drug Price Hikes."
I apologize to be writing on the review page
I am a pensioner, from South Africa. I'm looking for the best price for Xarelto. The state hospital prescribed Warfarin. I am totally allergic to warfarin
Please can you advise which is affordable to a pensioner.
Regards
Date of experience: November 6, 2022
Simplest and easiest site ever I had so much anxiety first being diagnosed with cancer and then getting on this medication I was not able to afford the real medication I could only get the generic so I came online and I found Canadian pharmacy store. Com, which made that medicine very affordable for me to purchase in a couple of easy steps also The chat with Marilyn S. Answered all my questions from who is the manufacture of my medication's to my prescription size and shipping time just everything thank you so much
Date of experience: October 15, 2021
We just ordered for my 90 year-old Mom. In the U.S. generics are not always available. So using PharmacyChecker we felt that its member pharmacy vendors were vetted. This reassurance of reliability took much of the guess work out of our shopping task.
Date of experience: March 10, 2021
Always nice every time I have called or placed an order that I needed to check on. Thank you for all you do. Rick you made it so easy In the beginning of the relationship between us for me to stay with you.
Date of experience: December 9, 2020
This website provides very helpful information on ordering medications from non-U.S. Sources. We save 50% to 60% on name brand meds that are not available in generic forms in the U.S. We have saved thousands over the years.
Date of experience: December 8, 2020
I feel safe ordering from a pharmaceutical company outside of the U S because the prescription I am using is exactly the same as those sold in the U S, however, the price is totally different. What I had paid in the U S for 90 pills listed at almost $500. For which I have been paying $72. From a Canadian company for 5 or 6 years now, the price includes shipping and is sometimes negotiable.
Date of experience: December 7, 2020
This happens to be a very good pharmacy that delivers name brand meds at a reasonable price. All of the meds that I have purchased through this pharmacy have been the exact product my doctor listed. All of the products were labeled with original manufacturer's identity and location with date of manufacture and expiration. I am certainly glad that I found this pharmacy. Great job.
Date of experience: September 29, 2020
I recommend it to many people. It sure saved us a lot and we learned a lot. The discount card saved us, too at Kroger.
Date of experience: September 29, 2020
I have been able to source several meds, at 10% of the american pharma cost. I have no doubt that I bought them where american pharma buys them, and then rapes the public. Thank you p checker
Date of experience: September 2, 2020
I am happy to see the entities that are endorsed by you. But I did have a horrendous experience with Canadian Pharmacy with my latest order. After switching the location from which my order was to be chipped, the order was and still is being held by US Customs. They did give me a replacement order which I finally did receive but that order was submitted MUCH later than it should have been. Bottom line, I waited OVER THREE MONTHS for my med to finally be delivered and that cost me more money to piece meal samples from my doc and out of pocket for short term needs. And, the order I did receive cost me MORE for FEWER tablets. I know Covid-19 played a part in this fiasco but the supplier simply DID NOT PREFORM!
Date of experience: August 19, 2020
