[hn_throwaway_99]

That executive order shows the full-on insanity and dysfunction of our political system in the US:

1. Other countries achieve lower drug prices because their governments regulate those prices.

2. The US (especially a particular political party) is anti-government regulation, especially when it comes to price controls, so drug prices are MUCH higher in the US.

3. Thus, the US president has issued an executive order to allow reimportation of drugs so that the US can take advantage of other countries' lower drug prices.

In other words, we won't pass our own regulations, so we are explicitly delegating our regulatory authority to other nations so that we can take advantage of the effects of their regulations.

Honestly, whether or not you are pro or anti regulation, this current state is just f'ing insane. You certainly can't consistently state that you are anti-regulation and be for this policy.

[Consultant32452]

It's regulation that is stopping me from buying the cheapest price. I don't want the US to force a particular price in the US. And even if they did, I would still want to be able to buy from anywhere in the world, regardless of where the lowest price is.

[hn_throwaway_99]

Yeah, you want to take advantage of the regulation of those other countries, which you can't get in the US.

[x86_64Ubuntu]

I'm not sure why people don't see the problem with "I don't want any price regulation in the US, but I want to personally benefit from price regulation done in other countries". It's a whole different level of selfishness.

[Consultant32452]

Can you describe how selfishness comes into play? I want everyone to be able to purchase at the lowest price and don't want them to be limited to buying only from the US.

[x86_64Ubuntu]

Because they are voting for no regulation and no M4A in their own country, while eating off the plate of countries that do negotiate drug prices and have socialized healthcare.

[Consultant32452]

Which countries are you referring to that negotiate drug prices? Up thread we were discussing the opposite: price controls.

[ars]

And other countries benefit from the high drug prices in America that fund pharmaceutical research.

I don't see them gnashing their teeth over the ethical considerations of that.

[x86_64Ubuntu]

Pharma spends more money on marketing than they do on R&D, the whole excuse that the costs are largely driven by research is tired and debunked.

[dantheman]

You mean the regulations that limit competition in the US and restrict manufactures and grant monopoly rights? These are the regulations that are good right?

[hn_throwaway_99]

What are you talking about when it comes to manufacturing insulin? I mean, yes, I definitely do want regulations around the safety of drug manufacturing, but beyond that what regulations specifically are you referring to that restrict the manufacturing of insulin?

[Consultant32452]

One example:

>The second reason, the authors noted, is that there isn't significant competition in the U.S. insulin market. Price competition typically comes from the introduction of a generic drug that directly competes with a branded product.

>But the authors said that current insulin makers have blocked the entry to such products by getting new patents based on things such as a new delivery device.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-11-07/...

Patent reform would help bring generics on the market and reduce prices.

[Consultant32452]

Let's not forget the need for patent reform in this area. The current state of patents around drugs in the US is crazy.