I'm sure I'm not 100% accurate on the numbers here because I don't feel like finding the receipts, but close enough. Here's another anecdote from the US. My do

I'm sure I'm not 100% accurate on the numbers here because I don't feel like finding the receipts, but close enough. Here's another anecdote from the US. My dog has a pulmonary condition that requires him to take Sildenafil daily (yes, generic Viagra). We got the prescription filled at a local pharmacy for a 90 count, they charged us something around $280 for. We were not expecting that high of a prescription, for a dog, for a generic medicine. Of course, since this is for a dog, we can't get our human health insurance rate for it, but the pharmacy is operating primarily for humans rather than animals. The person at the counter said that if we look at coupon sites like GoodRx, we might be able to save some money. A coupon we pulled up on our phone while standing there brought the price down to something below $30 for the same 90 day supply. Roughly 1/10 of the price. Clearly, the pharmacy must still be making some money even at $30. In what universe is it acceptable to charge a 900% markup above profitability on medicine? Yes, some people use this drug "recreationally", but it's also a lifesaving medicine for other humans and animals. I can't imagine what people must go through that need more expensive medicines for themselves or their families without insurance. And even with insurance, it's not much better. And that's just one of many anecdotes. I have others, like a relative being charged hundreds of dollars per Tylenol they received while in the hospital, only for insurance to "adjust" that down to something more "reasonable" like a couple of dollars per pill. This system is broken and needs monumental, uncomfortable, complete and total rebuilding, not repair.