Canadian Drugs - In the News

California Senate Health Committee helping U.S. consumers buy drugs from Canada. "Though it is illegal, at least 25 states and scores of cities are weighing proposals to buy medications from Canada, where price controls make brand name drugs up to 80 percent cheaper than in the United States." (Sacramento Bee, March 11, 2004)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley introduces bill to legalize import of Canadian drugs into the U.S.
"Free trade principles argue for allowing importation of drugs from Canada and other countries as long as those drugs are safe," Grassley said. "The FDA has been unresponsive for years, and U.S. consumers have been going around the FDA. Congress needs to take action to make sure that prescription drug imports are both safe and available to U.S. consumers." (Press Release, April 8, 2004)

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson backs Canadian Drugs.
"A senior U.S. administration official said for the first time Tuesday legalizing prescription drug imports is inevitable and would save consumers money. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, whose agency has led the opposition to imported drugs, also said he would advise President George W. Bush not to stand in the way of legislation to make it legal for drugs to be imported from abroad." (CTV/Associated Press, May 5, 2004)
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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty attends Pfizer Annual Meeting to discuss concerns over prescription drug pricing.
"Gouging American consumers is not a good long-term business practice, and that is the message I want to take to Pfizer shareholders, Governor Pawlenty said. The exorbitant cost of prescription drugs is not only unfair to American consumers, its detrimental to the economic future of these companies.  (Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty, March 18, 2004)

California Delegation representing Seniors, Healthcare Officials and Politicians tour Internet pharmacies in Canada.
"California is the latest in a string of several states in the past year to send delegations north to investigate Canada's Internet pharmacies." (Canoe News)

Florida Governor Jeb Bush opposed importing prescription drugs from Canadian Internet pharmacies.
"As some U.S. states welcome Canadian Internet pharmacies and the cheaper prescription drugs they sell, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says they're making his residents sick, and he's not sold on them." (CTV News/Canadian Press, July 30, 2004)
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Canadian Minister of Health, Pierre Petigrew's officials state that Health Canada is bracing for drug shortages despite no evidence that Internet pharmacies are creating one.
"Health Canada is bracing for a drug shortage even as the department assures Canadians there is no evidence lucrative Internet pharmacies have created one, documents suggest." (CTV News/Canadian Press, July 7, 2004)
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Canadian International Pharmacy Association is shocked at by what they describe as regulators 'misguided and draconian' recommendation.
"CIPA categorically rejects NAPRA's suggestion that the growth of mail-order pharmacy in Canada has compromised Canadians' access to health care, prescription drugs or pharmacy services. NAPRA has provided no evidence whatsoever that the only way to address its concerns is to shoot first and ask questions later. No legitimate purpose would be served by shutting down Canada's mail-order pharmacies." (Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), November 14, 2003)

Read through the FDA's guidelines in regards to the personal import of prescription drugs in travel baggage or through the U.S. Postal Service.