Pharmacists, Patients, Seniors Support Canadian Government Curbs on
    Cross-Border Drugs

    Groups stress need for more specifics from Health Minister

    TORONTO, June 29 /PRNewswire/ - A coalition of health groups has
announced their support for Canadian government plans to curb the cross-border
trade in prescription drugs. Organizations representing patients, seniors and
pharmacists said that federal government action is urgently needed, that they
are eager to hear the details of the Health Minister's plans and that such
plans must be implemented before the United States Congress passes legislation
to allow mass importation of Canadian drugs.
    Ujjal Dosanjh, Canada's Minister of Health held a news conference today
announcing his intention to introduce new regulations and legislation to
prevent Canada's drug supply and drug price control system from being
overwhelmed by U.S. demand. Bills currently before the U.S. Congress would, if
passed, legalize bulk buying of Canada's less expensive prescription drugs.
    "The Minister of Health deserves credit for sticking to his guns and
telling the U.S. that the medicine cabinet is closed," said Lothar Dueck,
President of the Coalition for Manitoba Pharmacy. "We're sympathetic towards
Americans who need better access to medicines, but Canada will not be the
answer. The U.S. must find its own solutions. We have been warning the
Canadian government for more than two years about the impact of cross-border
drug trading, so it's a relief to hear a strong statement that bulk drug
exports will not be allowed."
    "The Health Minister has made it clear that Canada will not be America's
drug store," said Louise Binder, Chair of the Canadian Treatment Action
Council and member of the Best Medicines Coalition. "That's encouraging news;
however we would like to see more detail, specifically what the new
regulations and legislation will be in order to ensure there are no loopholes
for unscrupulous drug traders to take advantage of. To that end, we expect to
be meaningfully involved in the consultative process."
    "We are pleased that the Minister has now recognized that the
government's first priority is to protect Canadian patients and our health
system," said Lillian Morgenthau, president of CARP - Canada's Association for
the Fifty-Plus, the largest seniors group in Canada. "Now it is critical that
the government move quickly to get the new law and regulations in place before
Congress opens the door to unrestricted purchasing of Canada's medicines. The
longer we wait, the greater the danger that Canadian patients will be hurt."

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