Ritch R, Hargett N, Podos S, Kass M A, Becker B
Am J Ophthalmol. 1978 Jul;86(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(78)90004-1.
Volunteer shoppers purchased antiglaucoma medications dispensed from prescriptions written according to generic and brand-name products in Manhattan and in the St. Louis area. All drugs obtained were more expensive in Manhattan than in St. Louis. No significant cost difference was found between generic and brand-name items in either city, but only in a few instances were generic drugs actually dispensed. No difference in overall price was found between pharmacies located in better and poorer neighborhoods in Manhattan or between pharmacies located in urban, suburban, or rural areas in St. Louis. A white shopper paid significatnly lower retail prices than did a Hispanic shopper in Manhattan, particularly in better neighborhoods. The range of prices in each city for all drugs studied was greater than twofold. Pharmacies offering more patient services tended to charge higher prices, but frequently, pharmacies did not actually offer the services they advertised.
志愿者购物者购买了根据曼哈顿和圣路易斯地区通用名和品牌名产品开具的处方配药的抗青光眼药物。在曼哈顿获得的所有药物都比在圣路易斯更贵。在这两个城市中，通用名药和品牌名药之间均未发现显著的成本差异，但实际配给的通用名药仅为少数情况。在曼哈顿，位于较富裕和较贫困社区的药店之间，以及在圣路易斯，位于城市、郊区或农村地区的药店之间，总体价格均未发现差异。在曼哈顿，白人购物者支付的零售价格明显低于西班牙裔购物者，尤其是在较富裕的社区。每个城市中所有研究药物的价格范围超过两倍。提供更多患者服务的药店往往收费更高，但药店经常并未实际提供他们所宣传的服务。
