Las Vegas Sun

April 23, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Drug costs need not be so high

I’m a type 1 diabetic. I’m require two types of insulin daily: long-lasting insulin (Lantus) in the morning and short-acting (Humolog) before meals and as needed.

I recently vacationed in Ireland. While flying in, I realized I’d forgotten to pack my Lantus.

Someone at the front desk of the hotel called a local pharmacy. The next morning, I visited the pharmacy.

I was not asked for a prescription. I was not asked for insurance information. I received a package of five pens of Lantus Solostar (not a generic) with an expiration date of Aug. 31, 2023.

The cost was 66 euros, or $76.56.

I asked an assistant at my local pharmacy in Las Vegas what the cost would be for a package of five pens without insurance. The answer: $465.99.

The cost of Lantus in Las Vegas (prescription required) is more than six times the cost of the exact same item in Ireland, with no prescription required.

Shouldn’t Congress be able to enact legislation that lowers the cost of necessary medications?