Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Are Brand Name Medicine Prices Really Lower In Ciudad Juárez?, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Osvaldo Miranda

Border Region Modeling Project

Relatively high brand name pharmaceutical prices have led many United States residents to cross the border into Mexico as “medical tourists.” To examine the savings potentially available to consumers willing to cross into Mexico, data are collected and analyzed for brand name prescription medicines sold in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Retail pharmacy prices are generally lower on the south side of the border and substantial savings result for some medicines. For some products, however, shelf prices are lower on the north side of the border.