Last year, consumers in the U.S. spent millions buying prescription medicines from Canadian pharmacies (much of it online) because the prices of drugs in that country were less expensive than here.
The current Democrat-controlled Congress plans to push a number of initiatives to reduce the cost of prescription drugs during this session, including legislation that would allow for the importation of medicines from Canada.
North of the U.S. border, however, there are groups that are asking the Canadian government to "just say no" to exports.
Earlier this week, groups representing Canadian pharmacists called for a ban that would end exports of prescription medicines to the U.S. The group, which includes the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the Ontario Pharmacists Association, the Best Medicines Coalition and the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution, is concerned that exports to the U.S. will leave Canadian pharmacies without sufficient supplies for consumers there.
"Rather than deal with it from a domestic point of view, (U.S. lawmakers) are looking to our drug supply to provide the answers," Louise Crandall, a spokesperson at the Canadian Pharmacists Association, told Reuters. "That obviously will have a negative impact on our drug supply."
A spokesperson for Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement said the concern expressed by the groups is not warranted.
"At present there is no threat to the Canadian drug supply. In fact, there has been a downward trend in overall sales of pharmaceuticals to the U.S.," said press secretary, Erik Waddell.
"We'll continue to monitor the situation and take action if necessary."
Discussion Questions: How harmful have imports of medicines from Canada or elsewhere been on retail pharmacies in the U.S.? What action is required of the government, business and/or on the individual level to give American pharmacies the chance to be price competitive with those in Canada?
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