Text 3858, 75 rader
Skriven 2004-10-20 18:29:00 av THURSTON ACKERMAN (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JEFF BINKLEY
Ärende: Canadian drugs
======================
JB>The solution is to go at the source of why the drugs are so expensive instea
JB>of trying to find ways to beat the system (that Kerry and others erected).

JB>======================================

JB>http://news.ft.com/cms/s/1138adf6-2076-11d9-af19-00000e2511c8.html

JB>Canada deals blow to cheap US drug imports
JB>By Bernard Simon in Toronto
JB>Published: October 17 2004 21:47 | Last updated: October 17 2004 21:47

JB>More than 30 Canadian internet pharmacies have decided not to accept bulk
JB>orders of prescription drugs from US states and municipalities.

JB>The move delivers a potentially serious setback to US politicians most notab
JB>Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry campaigning to give Americans
JB>easier access to cheap drugs from Canada.

JB>Mr Kerry has argued that opening the US to Canadian imports could help lower
JB>the costs of prescription drugs for elderly Americans. Such reimportation ha
JB>become one of the points of difference between him and President George W. B
JB>during the election campaign.

JB>But growing concern in Canada that growing exports to the US could lead to
JB>rising prices and shortages north of the border has prompted the Canadian
JB>International Pharmacy Association (Cipa), whose members include several of
JB>biggest internet and mail-order drugstores, to act. We don't want to give
JB>Americans the impression that we have unlimited supply for them to tap into
JB>a commercial basis, said David Mackay, the association's executive director.
JB>Americans, he added, can't get everything from Canada. We can't be your
JB>complete drugstore.

JB>Prescription drug prices are significantly lower in Canada than the US, beca
JB>of price controls and bulk buying by the 10 provinces. Individual Americans
JB>have crossed the border for years to buy cheap medicines, but the internet a
JB>spiralling healthcare costs in the US have led to a wider movement for state
JB>and cities to source the drugs they need from Canada. Several states, such a
JB>Minnesota and New Hampshire, have set up websites directing residents to
JB>approved pharmacies in Canada. Cipa members would continue to service these
JB>customers, Mr Mackay said, but would not deal with states such as Illinois a
JB>Wisconsin that have proposed turning over their entire supply system to a
JB>Canadian internet pharmacy.

JB>Cipa members make up about a quarter of the roughly 150 internet pharmacies
JB>operating in Canada, raising the question whether others will follow its lea
JB>Mr Mackay said discussion had been heated at an all-day meeting of Cipa last
JB>month at which the new policy was approved. With pharmaceutical manufacturer
JB>seeking to restrict supplies and the US Congressional Budget Office recently
JB>saying that reimportation from Canada would have a negligible impact on US
JB>drugs spending, the internet pharmacies have already had difficulty meeting
JB>demand from south of the border.

JB>Several have set up alliances with pharmacies in other countries. A sharp ri
JB>in the Canadian dollar has also squeezed profits.

JB>Ujjal Dosanjh, Canada's health minister, said over the weekend that he was n
JB>concerned at this point either about domestic shortages or the safety of
JB>Canadian medicines.

JB>Still, public opinion appears to be gradually turning against the online
JB>operators. Canadian Treatment Action Council, a lobby group representing
JB>pharmacists and patients, is due to speak out today against drug exports to
JB>US.

I find it intersting that one of the largest pharmacies here in the
northeast of the USA is the Brooks Brothers chain that is Canadian
owned. One wonders if the Board of Directors in Torando decided they
earned too many $$$ here that helps finance single-payer medical
delivery in Canada to support mail order business to USA.

Ciao, Ack.

---
 þ SLMR 2.1a þ Fine is tax for doing wrong.Tax is a fine for doing well
 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:123/140)