Patients who choose generic medications could save U_S_ billions
Prescription drugs can be taxing on the wallet, but patients may offset these costs by seeking cheap medication from Canada.
Prescription drugs can be taxing on the wallet, but patients may offset these costs by seeking cheap medication from Canada. Additionally, they may opt for generic products instead of buying brand-name ones, which could result in up to $6 billion in savings, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
In an article that appears in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, the researchers evaluated the potential national savings from a more widespread use of inexpensive prescription medications.
Although discount programs exist to offer patients cheaper, low-profile versions of certain drugs, less than 6 percent made use of these resources, according to the researchers. Had all eligible individuals participated in 2007, the U.S. would have saved approximately $5.8 billion.
"We are not promoting any specific pharmacy or any retail store's discount generic medication program," lead author Yuting Zhang clarified. "However, if policymakers and clinicians direct patients to low-cost generic programs, patients and taxpayers could save tremendously."
Individuals who need prescription drugs to treat their ailments may be under enough stress already. Doing research on cheap medication from Canada - and acquiring these products through a Canadian online pharmacy - might relieve some of that pressure on their wallets.
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