FAQs

What is Prescription Justice?

Prescription Justice brings together doctors, lawyers, public health and consumer advocates, political activists, and students dedicated to ending the crisis of high drug prices in America. The top 60 brand-name drugs sold in the United States cost on average almost four times more than in other high-income countries. This injustice must not stand.

 

We advocate for all Americans who are sick of high drug prices, and tired of greedy drug companies and the politicians they control. We also stand up for those who need to access more affordable imported medications now through personal importation. And we stand against actions by the pharmaceutical industry that mislead and misinform the public.

 

The Prescription Justice National Student Advocacy Committee (NSAC). NSAC brings together student advocates from various undergraduate and medical institutions across the country to build support for and further Prescription Justice’s legislative and policy agenda. NSAC develops advocacy materials for students and other activists, reaches out to members of Congress, and collaborates with like-minded public interest organizations around the country to push congress to take forceful action to lower drug prices

 

What does Prescription Justice do?

We advocate for serious regulatory and legislative reforms that will bring drug prices in the United States in line with those of other high-income countries. That is the only fair result for Americans. In doing so we aim to bring Americans together on a bi-partisan or non-partisan basis. Unlike most issues in our country, drug prices can unite Democrat and Republican voters. For that reason, we only focus on lowering drug prices and do not delve into other issues.

 

Advocacy takes the form of social media, blogging, op-ed writing, coalition building and participation, and making our voices heard in Washington.

 

What will make drug prices lower in the United States?

There are essentially three ways to substantially bring down drug prices. The first is for the government to negotiate with drug companies: using our large population’s market power to get a fair deal. The second is to allow for open markets to empower businesses to import prescription drugs at the lower prices charged in other countries. The third is to end the anticompetitive patent games played by drug companies to keep lower-cost generic drugs off the market longer.

 

See the Prescription Justice Policy Platform.

 

What about buying cheaper prescription drugs from Canada?

Americans need lower prices now. Prescription Justice vociferously advocates for regulatory and legislative reforms, and public policies generally, that help patients safely import prescription drugs for themselves at prices they can afford.

 

Why are prescription drug prices so much higher in the U.S. than in other countries?

Drug prices are subject to different interventions, policies, and controls in most other countries that keep prices much lower for the same drugs sold in the U.S. The U.S., instead, allows drug companies to charge whatever the market will bear. That means the highest prices for the greatest corporate profits.

 

Are there ways to find lower-cost medication in the U.S.?

Sometimes, yes. There are many ways you can find more affordable medication in the U.S., but it takes a lot of work. Generic drugs in the U.S. are often much cheaper than in Canada, particularly for older drugs on which manufacturers compete for market share. For patented brand-name drugs, the prices in Canada and other countries are usually much lower.

 

We’ve created our RX Savings page to help you find relief.

 

It shouldn’t be this hard, and that’s why Prescription Justice is dedicated to making prescription drug prices fair like it is in many other countries.

 

Stay informed about news and advocacy centered on the crisis of high drug prices