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Ibuprofen can be manufactured by almost any company and sold in almost any store. So open competition in the sector drives down prices. Chloroquine exists in
by joncrane 7y ago
Ibuprofen can be manufactured by almost any company and sold in almost any store. So open competition in the sector drives down prices.
Chloroquine exists in a walled garden where pharmaceutical companies and the government have rigged it so that rent-seeking behavior is the optimal financial strategy.
- onetimemanytime 7y agoWhy can't Chloroquine ? Maybe there's not as much money in it, unless it requires special permissions. Does anyone know if there's a lot of supply in hand and if it can be made in large quantities fast?
- gridlockd 7y agoThe price reflects opportunity cost, there is low demand for Malaria treatment in the US. Ibuprofin is a staple drug.
- londons_explore 7y agoExcept drugs can be shipped around the world very cheaply, even in small doses, so demand alone can't explain price difference.
- onetimemanytime 7y agoexactly. My point was this is prob a demand issue, not a government intervention. I wonder how fast they can make it...shipping can be done via charter planes this time.
- Lldjjxnn 7y agoFalse. Government prohibits importation of most medicines from abroad. It's corruption hidden in the form of "please just think of the children." "FDA cannot assure the safety and efficacy of unapproved drugs" is the main excuse used in drug importation court cases. Reference: https://www.pharmacycheckerblog.com/online-pharmacies-personal-drug-importation-and-public-health-laws-governing-online-pharmacies https://www.pharmacycheckerblog.com/online-pharmacies-person...
- DennisP 7y agoBut it wouldn't take an act of Congress to change that. Your link says it's up to the FDA, which could easily choose to allow importation to combat the pandemic.