U.S. laws threaten Canada's drug plans, Ontario pharmacists say.Ontario pharmacists do not want Canada to become America's drug store. In a letter to federal and Ontario health ministers, the Ontario Pharmacists Association said they are "gravely concerned" because they see a threat to Canada's prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, supply and public health. There are also safety threats in new legislation and enforcement measures in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The changes re-open the U.S. border to the importation of prescription drugs by American patients. The Congress enacted laws to allow "foot importation" of a 90-day personal supply of prescription drugs from Canada. The Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States ceased confiscation confiscation In law, the act of seizing property without compensation and submitting it to the public treasury. Illegal items such as narcotics or firearms, or profits from the sale of illegal items, may be confiscated by the police. Additionally, government action (e.g. by Customs and Border Protection agents of drugs ordered over the internet and mailed to Americans. The impact, the OPA OPA: see Office of Price Administration. warns, will be "free-for-all for cross-border drug importation." The pharmacists see "serious implications for Canada's drug supply. The attraction of drugs is that federal regulation and provincial government programs keep prescription drug prices lower than in the U.S. The OPA letter makes no mention of drug manufacturers' threats to limit Canadian supplies. The OPA expressed concerns about the potential of organized crime using the internet to sell phone drugs by posing as Canadian pharmacists. They also point to the potential for "drug terrorism" that might deliberately harm unsuspecting persons. The OPA wants the government of Canada The Government of Canada is the federal government of Canada. The powers and structure of the federal government are set out in the Constitution of Canada. In modern Canadian use, the term "government" (or "federal government") refers broadly to the cabinet of the day and to take immediate action to protect Canada's prescription drug supply by banning prescription drug sales to U.S. patients by all means, including "foot traffic," Internet and mail order. www.opatoday.com |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion