posted on April 13, 2004 06:10:53 PM new
Update on Canadian Drug Reimportation:
WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) --
Pharmacies in Canada are running short of key drugs as major pharmaceutical companies punish them for selling to U.S. seniors by cutting off supplies.
"Our pharmacies are under incredible pressure right now. The supply issue is drastic," Dave Mackey, president of the Canadian International Pharmacist Association, told reporters at a briefing Monday.
"Unfortunately, the situation is rather dire."
In January, Pfizer cut off shipments of its drugs to more than 70 Canadian pharmacies that sell to U.S. customers. Company officials, who did not return phone calls by UPI's HealthBiz, have said they are concerned about their Canadian pipeline and that allowing the reimportation of drugs could lead to counterfeit products on the market, resulting in a health safety issue.
Pharmaceutical companies also consider the issue one of intellectual property rights.
posted on April 13, 2004 06:49:21 PM new
so what should we do??get our friends in canada to buy for us??or take a vacation in canada??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on April 13, 2004 06:54:40 PM new
::they are concerned about their Canadian pipeline and that allowing the reimportation of drugs could lead to counterfeit products on the market, resulting in a health safety issue.::
Bullsh*t!! They are concerned about their profit margins and the Canadian government should fine them all and quietly tell them they are going to actively seek alternative sources for medication in their facilities if normal service is not reinstated immediately. Two can play the strong arm game and it's about time the drug companies start finding to realize that.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Apr 13, 2004 06:55 PM ]
posted on April 13, 2004 07:23:58 PM new
if canada can find alternatives,they will or probably have done so already.
but i agree with you,the us drug companies have not convinced us how reimportation bring more counterfeit drug into this country.
i buy from mexico,their is better than what we can get here,it is individually blister packed and is fresher.
with agricultural commodity prices rising,elders will have a tougher time to choose between medicine or food.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on April 13, 2004 08:08:34 PM new
The link also speaks to the concerns that Canadians have about this issue:
Canadian healthcare organizations that are **opposed** to Canadian pharmacies selling medications to US consumers - what effect reimportation will have on their access to prescription drugs and healthcare providers, as well as Canada's drug pricing system.
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Then there's the case of repackaging the drugs from other countries:
FDA SETTLES DRUG REPACKAGING CASE
Phil and Kathy's Inc., of Richton Park, Ill., a drug repackager -- has settled a case with the Food and Drug Administration involving thousands of imported but unapproved drugs seized by the regulatory agency last year.
The company was doing business as Local Repack, Alliance Wholesale Distributor and Local Pharmacy.
During a 2003 inspection the FDA found Phil and Kathy's was importing and repacking drug products labeled in Spanish and Portuguese and did not comply with current good manufacturing practice requirements.
A consent decree signed by the company owners stipulates it is prohibited from manufacturing or repackaging any products until it meets FDA standards.
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shopwhining - In one of the previous threads we've had on this subject it was brought up that if [say] the whole state of Illinois bought their drugs from Canada, it would present a shortage problem to the people in Canada. Then the drug companies also said they would sell no more drugs to Canada than they had been before all this reimportation selling started.
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Imo, the US shouldn't be the only country paying the price for the research and development of new drugs. And I'd hate to see the drug companies cut back on R&D.
posted on April 14, 2004 12:20:17 PM new
Linda, R&D is just a fancy word for a never ending money pit. I know you think differently, but there have been no big break throughs in the drug industry in the past 40 years, just repackaging, renaming and adding or subtracting a few fillers.
The problem is exactly what Fenix said. It's a big industry based on greed and supported by only those that can pay. They don't care if you can't afford your medicine. They only care about the ones who can. Just look at their profit margins if you think I'm wrong.
posted on April 14, 2004 01:00:23 PM newThe problem is exactly what Fenix said. It's a big industry based on greed and supported by only those that can pay. They don't care if you can't afford your medicine. They only care about the ones who can. Just look at their profit margins if you think I'm wrong.
I have to disagree with this statement. I am on a certain drug that I get FREE from the drug company. In a Pharmacy it is $140.00 a month. I get it free. Another drug company that offers, at least to the state of Wisconsin, certain drugs to seniors that can't afford them. The free drugs are out there and in another thread I gave you a website to check it out. In Wisconsin we have senior care and it goes according to income what you pay. Higher income has a deductible and when that is met generic drugs are $5.00, brand name is $7.00. Lower income no deductible just the copay. As stated in our local paper today. Seniors or others can go to a casino and spend their money but when it comes to living, i.e. taxes and medicine they can't afford it. There is something wrong with that picture. Canada will probably soon stop importing medicine to US citizens as Canadian citizens should get top priority.
posted on April 14, 2004 01:02:33 PM new
Kraft I disagree with you. There have been many breakthroughs in the past few years. From my own experience I have seen the advance of immunosuppression drugs which have extended the lives of many transplant patients myself included.
It does take time, money and the dedication of many scientists to achieve this.
I do agree with you that their motivation on the corporate level is profit based and it is true that if you can't pay you don't play which is why I believe in a universal single payer health care system.
I am fortunate in that I have private insurance and can cope with the co pays required of me but that is not the case for all which is not how it should be.
Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on April 14, 2004 01:19:49 PM newAbbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products, including devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 70,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
I know it says 130 countries but they still do R&D in the US and with the food and drug administration their products have to be top notch. This business is not just an 8 hour a day business as my neighbor was an engineer there and worked many different shifts especially when research is done on new drugs. Aids is one of the biggest ones that they do and of course Cipro.
posted on April 14, 2004 01:28:26 PM new
Sure, there are new types of maintenance drugs coming out all the time - new cancer drugs, AIDS drugs, even T-cell and stem cell therapy, etc., but no breakthough drugs that cure anything. Most of these new drugs are based on old chemical compounds, just simply renamed.
