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The shocking world of US health costs

Can the same pill cost $3 in a pharmacy and $750 in a hospital?

A loyal listener wrote in to question this claim made by neuroscientist Dr Daniel Levitin: "Here in the US valium in a pharmacy might be $3 that same pill in a hospital setting might be $750."

Our listener was shocked at how one pill can cost 250 x more in a hospital setting than in a pharmacy. But can it? Sort of.

We turned to Elisabeth Rosenthal to take us on a dive into the frankly shocking world of US Health costs.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill

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9 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Dec 2025 11:50GMT
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    麻豆社 World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, East Asia & South Asia
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    麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa

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