These drugs are usually made by foreign divisions of the same companies which make the drugs in the U.S., and are therefore of equivalent quality. In fact, many drugs sold in the U.S. are actually relabeled foreign-manufactured drugs. However, it is incongruously illegal to promote or profit from such importation. Step 3 Allow patients to purchase non-controlled drugs without prescriptions. American travelers are often amazed to find that not only are drugs available overseas for a fraction of their U.S. cost, but also that they can usually be purchased without a prescription.
Prescriptions are the exception, rather than the rule, in most countries of the world.
The incidence of adverse drug effects is not significantly higher in these countries than in the U.S., nor is the life expectancy or the health of the citizens of these countries any less than that of Americans. Reducing this prescription requirement would dramatically reduce unnecessary physician visits, and greatly reduce the overall cost of medical care. Step 4 Allow manufacturers to make truthful health claims for herbs, biological substances and nutrients. Health food stores currently offer a relatively low-cost and often safer alternative to many pharmaceuticals for many conditions. However, under current laws, manufacturers are prohibited from making any health claims for such products, even when there is an overwhelming amount of well-documented evidence which would substantiate such claims.