|
|
Dr. John L. Gililland, of the Northern California Fertility Center knows that many of his patients shop for the best bargain on medications, and he understands their reasons.
"The difference in cost can easily be $1000 or more when comparing prices at local pharmacies vs. prices from online pharmacies or from pharmacies that are out of the country," says Gililland. He also notes that the two companies (Serono and Organon) which produce gonadotropins, drugs typically used in IVF cycles, are based in countries outside of the United States. For this reason, he believes that "medications produced outside the U.S. are as good as any other (as long as they are stored and shipped properly)."
There are several concerns that prevent Dr. Gililland from recommending patients go abroad to purchase their medications.
"Purchasing from abroad can be more risky because of the greater transit time and the possibility that medications could be held up (or confiscated) in U.S. customs," he adds, and the time factor can negatively impact a drug's effect in treatment.
As with so many other things, lack of governmental regulation may be the primary factor in what patients see as discriminatory access to meds.
Gililland adds, "Unfortunately, like with many other pharmaceutical products, the companies producing these products have overpriced them in the United States (due to product liability concerns and simple greed). It shouldn't be surprising, then, that patients will do what they can to reduce these costs. "
© Tracy Morris
_2.jpg)
