What Is The Rationale Behind Low Prices In Canada?
Canada is hardly the best country in terms of pricing. According to GOBankingRates, Canada ranks 24th most expensive country to live in. But it does have one particularity: cheap medicine. You may wonder why it is this way, and we have a simple answer to that: generics.
Contrary to US and some most influential European and Asian countries, where medicinal drugs are owned by certain brands, many Canadian pharmacies sell unbranded drugs, which makes it much easier for people to get them. Generic drugs are no different to brand-name medications, and they have the same strength, dosage, and quality. And they aren’t any different when it comes to effectiveness and safety; generics can be used instead of original brands, and, oddly enough, you will never tell the difference between them. And yet generic drugs cost up to 70/80% less.
Why is it so?
Generic drugs can be obtained from many companies, while branded drugs are special products of a particular company which distinguishes them among others and wins recognition for it. Once well-established, pharmaceutical companies owing to their status win even more popularity among people, prove to be reliable, they can thereby raise prices even further. Not only that, branded products are thoroughly tested and are subject to multiple experiments, which obviously is a strain on the company’s resources. Hence, high, if not exorbitant, costs are associated with a creation of a new drug. And it is worth mentioning that not all of those tests turn out to be successful. Failures are not a rare occurrence.
Full benefits while paying less
As you can see, there are literally no disadvantages to buying generics, since their effect doesn’t differ at all and you can save a good deal of your savings. Consider getting generic furosemide instead of Lasix, alprazolam instead of Xanax, or risperidone instead of Risperdal, and you’ll very quickly see what the matter is.
Thus, the government maintains the right approach to the healthcare system by letting citizens obtain not-so-popular but highly effective generic drug, and therefore save a great deal of money.
Is there any difference between generic and branded drugs?
Well, if you really need to know the difference, generic drugs do differ. No, the effect is still the same. The shape, color, and inactive ingredients of pills or substances may be different, though. However, we assure you that this is not to be a warning shot providing that you do not have any allergic reactions. Otherwise, you must consult a healthcare specialist to avoid unnecessary risk.
Generic drugs are sure to give you as much positive result as you expect from branded counterparts without burning a hole in your wallet. And in case you worry, generics also go through exhaustive tests until medical experts are absolutely positive about their beneficial effect.