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Canada may stop over-the-border drug sales
A tough new stance by Canada's health minister on Internet drug sales has increased the odds that Americans will soon be stopped from buying Canada's lower-cost medicines, say pharmacists on both sides of the importation fight.In recent weeks, Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has spoken out against the cross-border drug trade, saying he might prevent Canadian doctors from co-signing prescriptions for American patients they have not examined. Dosanjh considers the practice unethical without an exam. Canadian law requires that prescriptions bear the signatures of Canadian doctors, so such a move could cut off many of the estimated 2 million Americans who buy drugs from Canada, often over the Internet. "We're hanging by a thread," says Dave MacKay of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, which represents pharmacies that do business in the USA. "There's a very real chance that by the middle of January, drugs will not flow from Canada anymore." Tension over the debate has been growing in Canada and the USA. Some Canadian pharmacists oppose the Internet sales, and others have built a lucrative business because of it. Lothar Dueck of the Coalition for Manitoba Pharmacy, an opponent of drug sales to the USA, says the growing trade has led to increased drug prices in Canada. He also says the matter is part of ongoing trade disputes between the two countries. "The U.S. doesn't want our wheat, wood, beef or pigs. Why do they want our drugs?" Dueck asks. The issue may arise when the Canadian Cabinet meets again on Jan. 11. Ken Polk, director of communications for the health minister, says some of the changes being considered may not need Parliament's approval. Polk said Prime Minister Paul Martin told reporters this month that the health minister "is articulating the position of the government of Canada." Dosanjh's ideas have not received much coverage in the USA, but he has been widely quoted in Canadian media. Dosanjh fears that U.S. demand might cause shortages for Canadians. Posted by: Steve 2004-12-29 |
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