Canada signals crackdown on Internet pharmacies

	Tweet

The Canadian government signaled on Thursday it was ready to crack down on Internet pharmacies that send cheap medicine to the United States, often without Canadian doctors having seen the patients.

The practice, which figured prominently in the U.S. presidential election campaign, had been seen as a way for American citizens and governments to save money. But it caused concern that it might lead to drug shortages in Canada.

"This is a struggle to make sure that drugs for all Canadians remain safe and adequate in terms of supply, and for all Canadians there’s a pricing regime that’s affordable,” Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh told reporters.

He said options included making it illegal for Canadian doctors to countersign prescriptions from other countries or allowing doctors to write prescriptions only for Canadian residents or visitors to the country.

Another option would create a list of drugs that cannot be exported, if shortages or potential shortages develop.

The federal government had long allowed the Internet pharmacies to stay in business, particularly in light of the thousands of jobs they have created in the Prairie province of Manitoba. But Dosanjh said he was ready now to start moving.

“These are unethical, unprofessional transactions at their inception, and no state can turn a blind eye to it,” he said.

Drugs are cheaper in Canada than in the United States because of government price controls.

But pharmaceutical companies have warned that they would not supply hugely increased volumes of drugs to Canada if it became apparent that these were simply being shipped back to the States at cut rates.

Dosanjh noted that President Bush had expressed concern about the possible bulk reimportation of drugs into the United States.

“I am particularly concerned with respect to the feasibility of our pricing regime, and I want to make sure that that pricing regime remains in place at all costs because that means we are saving hundreds of millions of dollars,” the minister said.

RELATED STORIES:
FDA warns Chiron over flu vaccine plant   US approves treatment for smallpox shot reaction   Viagra helps climbers deal with high altitudes   States look to Europe for prescription drugs   Xenical OTC   Study: Few buy drugs online   Cipla HIV drugs back on WHO approved list   Canadian study slams costly “me-too” medicines   Scientists find more potent anti-TB drugs   Canada warns it cannot be the drugstore to U.S.   Johnson & Johnson Receives Subpoena   US poll backs bigger gov’t role on drug prices

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]