Canada Weighs Banning Internet Drug Sales
Thursday, January 06, 2005 FOXNEWS.COM HOME > HEALTH
Internet sales of prescription drugs to U.S. consumers could be banned by Canada if a proposal being drafted by health officials is approved, changes that would essentially kill a $700 million industry that has become increasingly popular with underinsured patients in search of cheaper medicine.
The issue has become touchy politically for President Bush, whose administration has argued that reimporting U.S.-made drugs from Canada would put consumers at risk because U.S. regulators could not guarantee their safety. The pharmaceutical industry, which donated heavily to Bush's re-election campaign, vehemently opposes reimporting drugs, a practice that undercuts their U.S. sales.
Representatives of both the U.S. and Canadian governments say Bush discussed the issue with Prime Minister Paul Martin when he visited in the fall, sparking accusations Bush pressured Martin to change Canadian policy — an accusation the White House denies.
As part of its socialized medical system , the Canadian government sets drug prices substantially lower than those charged in the United States, though the savings from Canadian Internet purchases are eroding. For example, the price on 100 pills of 20 milligrams of Lipitor in Canada rose 26 percent to $201.01 last year. The U.S. price was essentially flat at $290.34.
