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posted by janrinok on Monday August 15 2016, @01:22AM   Printer-friendly
from the money,-money,-money dept.

I ran across a story in the acclaimed “medical journal”, International Business Times, about how an old PMS medication from the 60s might be an Alzheimer's cure. Considering the source, I don't put a ton of stock in the story but it was interesting enough to look around a little more. That led me first to wikipedia to learn a little more about the drug in question (sounds like it has nasty side effects), which is when I got totally sidetracked:

Mefenamic acid is generic and is available worldwide under many brand names.[5]

In the USA, wholesale price of a week's supply of generic mefenamic acid has been quoted as $426.90 in 2014. Brand-name Ponstel is $571.70.[15] In contrast, in the UK, a weeks supply is £1.66, or £8.17 for branded Ponstan.[16] In the Philippines, 10 tablets of 500 mg generic mefenamic acid cost PHP39.00 (or the equivalent of $0.88USD) as of October 25, 2014.

The numbers in wikipedia may be extreme, but not by much. Looking online, I see that thirty 250mg tablets cost at least $111 at Walmart. In an almost direct reversal of the quantity and price numbers, one hundred 250mg tablets cost $35 from a UK manufacturer, but to get the drug at that price, you must break Federal law.

The rest of my comment would be a long string of expletives which I shall omit.


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  • (Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Monday August 15 2016, @04:48AM

    by dyingtolive (952) on Monday August 15 2016, @04:48AM (#388096)

    God willing perhaps one day I too can live in such an advanced and progressive country.

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
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  • (Score: 2) by butthurt on Monday August 15 2016, @09:31PM

    by butthurt (6141) on Monday August 15 2016, @09:31PM (#388402) Journal

    A "health visa" is offered:

    This is granted to those whose intention is to convalesce from a serious injury or illness. The illness, however, should not be contagious or dangerous.

    -- http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwha006.html [usembassy.gov]