Thus, thousands cross the border each day where prescription drugs are far cheaper, because they are not price-fixed by the big US drug companies. Celebrex, a prescription pain reliever $64.99 (about $225 at US pharmacies), Prozac an antidepressant, $17.50 (about $65 in the US) and Atenolol, a heart medicine, $3.85 (about $50 in the US). And of course Viagra which is $2 a pill.

Some of the medical treatments available in Algodones are often frowned upon by American doctors. Take chelation therapy (suffusing the body with Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic Acid, to remove harmful metals such as lead and mercury) which is very controversial and groups like the National Council for Health Fraud declare it unethical and useless. Patients, conversely, declare it a lifesaver.