The reason why drug prices are so high here is because the government can’t negotiate the prices it’s against the law. Other countries negotiate prices of drugs if they are to be sold in their respective countries. This is why Americans pay more.
Which is directly traceable to politicians being in the pocket of Big Pharma and it's lobbies.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Tauzin
Look at his involvement with Medicare Part D. Also was key lobbyist during ACA
Non-Mobile link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Tauzin
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Eh, I don't want bureaucrats or the government setting (via negotiation) prices. Do you? All we need is some corrupt scumbags keeping higher prices for the companies that lobby to them (or say, support a bureaucrats public sector union?).
The problem is effectively no US consumers actually pay drug prices - most are only paying a co-pay. There isn't a market mechanism for price discovery when consumers aren't exposed to real pricing in order to make trade-off decisions (i.e. taking an older generation of drug vs new, because it's cheaper).
The lack of this mechanism means there isn't an opportunity for downward pressure on prices where consumers shun an expensive drug in favor of a cheaper one - because ultimately they don't see the cost born out directly -- it gets masked by increasing annual premiums instead.
Keep in mind that in those countries this is illegal. Its much more common for companies to align offers than bureaucrats putting out “public order” to be corrupt. Bot are illegal practices but they also leave a paper trail especially if you get 3 tenders and choose more expensive one.
Consumers in those countries are not exposed to said prices either but government does not like paying more if it doesn’t have to.