>>The consumer in many countries has no motive for demanding a cheaper generic, since the national health insurance pays the cost of drugs.<<
That is of course misleading. The "consumers" mentioned pay for the drugs through their taxes. Since the government is in charge it has no reason the worry about price, it just takes more. Another reason to oppose such a farce here in America.
Excellent point, Rich. In fact, the ones who are paying attention probably care even more that the tax money isn't being spent as wisely as it should be. And although I strongly support an overhaul of the American health care system, these kinds of things need to be taken into consideration as well.
Another thing. More than a year ago, I posted in here about my shock upon discovering that the prescription drugs in Jordan - the exact same medicines used in the U.S., made by the same drug companies, in the same packaging - sell here for a fraction of the price you pay in the U.S. At the time that I was posting about it, I was traveling back to the U.S. and bringing some prescription meds to my brother who had insurance that didn't cover a medication he needed. That medicine was an example - $350 for a 30-day supply in the U.S. was less than $100 for a 30-day supply in Jordan. Again, the medication was IDENTICAL, and NOT a generic (generic was not yet available of that particular med).
So what gives? On the one hand, I would suggest that the drug companies are adjusting their prices to match the local economies; $100 per month for that med in Jordan would cause the same burden for an average, middle-class person in Jordan as $350 per month would cause an average, middle class person in the U.S. And that's great - so nice of the drug companies to take the local incomes into consideration.
But there also is NO drug company advertising here, either. Doctors read medical journals and attend conferences and educate themselves to find the best medications, they aren't pestered by salesmen promoting new drugs. That alone could explain a big difference in the price.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that even the price of brand name drugs isn't etched in stone. I suggest that Americans are being taken advantage of, and that perhaps Europeans are getting it worse because the buying is happening behind their backs, done by the government, with taxes already paid. And I see that as a BIG problem.