With pharmacy expenditure topping $358 billion in 2020, employers are desperately searching for ways to efficiently reduce their Rx spend. International sourcing is a method that has been used on a personal level for many years. However, many U.S. businesses are starting to employ this strategy as a way to decrease prescription drug spend for their entire workforce.
Where to Source From?
As mentioned above, international sourcing has been utilized by patients since as early as the 1990’s. However, businesses are now sourcing drugs internationally as a means for reducing Rx spend. Popular countries to source from include Canada, as well as several countries in the European Union. However, Canada is generally the location of choice due to proximity.
Safety Concerns to Consider When International Sourcing
Luckily, there are minimal to no safety concerns when considering whether or not employers should begin sourcing certain drugs internationally. These countries have similar, if not, stricter safety standards than those that exist here in the United States. When sourcing from overseas, there is little need to worry about the efficacy or safety of the drugs you receive.
International Sourcing Cost Savings
While there have been no official studies on how much you stand to save from sourcing drugs internationally, it is evident from the retail pricing of certain medications. For example, the cancer medication Gleevec costs nearly $150,000 in the United States, while in Canada the same drug only costs $38,000.
As you can see, you’ll likely save quite a bit of money from simply obtaining prescription medications across borders. You and your workers can remain certain that drugs sourced from nations such as Canada and Germany are just as safe, reliable, and just as efficient as those purchased here in the United States.