NOGALES  CONT)

Americans crossing the border to save money.

"It's a political issue," said Merry - "as in Christmas" - Mohr, one of the passengers. "It's disgraceful that we have to be bussed to another country. I'm a 67-year-old widow of 20 years and my resources are limited. Our government should be looking at protecting our own citizens and letting Israel and the Palestinians take care of their own business. The government should be examining the enormous profits that the drug companies are making. It would be a good issue for the loyal opposition [the Democratic party] to get involved in."

"I wasn't born in the United States and one of the first things that struck me when I came here was how expensive health care was," said Ken Opara, who comes originally from Nigeria and had spent some time in England. He was buying medicine for his parents who have no health insurance. "I saved about $350 [£250] today."

Other passengers are just happy at the savings they have made. Warren Wampole, a 64-year-old retired local government employee, suffers from high blood pressure and arthritis and his insurance company has now set a limit on what they will pay for the drugs he needs. He emerges from the store carrying a large plastic bag with five different kinds of medication.

"I just figured it up," he said. "I saved $800 [£575]." Marsha Mizelle, a physiotherapist, was buying drugs for her mother and mother-in-law. "This trip saves about $320 [£225]. One day every three months is worth it to me."

Sue Horne, who has come down with her daughter to buy a number of drugs she needs, compares the prices. Her Prozac in the US would have cost her $84 (£60) for a month's supply but here she is paying only $57 (£41) for three months worth of its generic equivalent.

For some, the bus trip is about more than saving dollars. Susan Harris, who moved to Tucson from Colorado, said: "Of course, it's to save money but part of it is the adventure. Maybe being alone, it is a nice way to get here. We thought it would be a bunch of gray-haired old bats which is hasn't been. You have to be a little bit brave to sign up cold. I've probably saved $200 [£140] - it's kind of fun for a day's adventure."
"I'm enjoying myself," said Nancy Steward, a mental health worker from Phoenix who was buying a supply of Celebrex for migraine, something not covered by her insurance company. "It's a nice day, you see a different culture."
Once everyone has bought their drugs, the journey back across the border begins. Customs officers check the drugs bought against the prescriptions carried by the passengers. Swager said he does not allow any controlled substances in and that he screens out young people who might be looking for drugs for reasons other than medicinal.

He said the Prescription Express had already brought rewards that were not financial and that one cancer patient had saved herself $1,200 (£850) on a trip. "I've never had so many 'God-bless-yous' from people in my life," he said. "It's fulfilling."

Nogales is Pancho Villa country. He can hardly have imagined that one day the cross-border raids would be to do not with cattle rustling or raids but with the price of Klonapin and Glocophlage and that the ill people of Mexico's wealthy northern neighbors would be seeking help south of the border.




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