the people here may have a better answer to a question that I've been thinking about lately. Everyone complains about American drug costs and how they're so high compared to other countries.
But sometimes I wonder if the high American drug costs also subsidize the cost for the other countries. At the end of the day the drug companies need to make money in order to stay in business and continue making drugs. Giving away drugs, for free or at cost, is only feasible for a certain amount of time. If other countries are not paying as much for the development (which is really really expensive) and the distribution of drugs, do the cost of American drugs sold in America make up for the losses that drug companies invariably entail by giving cheap or free drugs to other countries. I agree that medicine should be accessible for everyone regardless of cost, however it doesn't make economic sense and that can only last for a certain amount of time.
Does anybody know if this argument has any weight to it? I.e. does this make sense?
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