Potential American Demand now Exceeds the Population of Canada

    TORONTO, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ - Cross-border drug trading has reached a
new milestone. Americans in five states whose combined population is greater
than that of Canada are now being urged by their state governments to buy all
their medicines through Canadian internet pharmacies.
    Last week, Kansas became the fifth U.S. state to launch an official
program encouraging all citizens to purchase their prescription medicines
through Canadian internet pharmacies. The five states, which also include
Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington and Missouri, have a combined population of
33 million -- one million more than the population of Canada.
    "As we have been saying for more than a year, Canada simply can't supply
the US need for prescription drugs," said Louise Binder, Chair of the Canadian
Treatment Action Council and member of the Best Medicines Coalition. "We are
pleased by the steps now being taken by Minister Dosanjh and some of the
provincial regulatory bodies and we encourage them to stay the course to end
the unethical practices that are allowing internet pharmacies to continue."
    Drug prices in Canada are controlled by the federal government which
provides Canadians with lower prices for prescription drugs. American prices
are set by the free market.
    Lothar Dueck, a community pharmacist in Vita, Manitoba and President of
the Coalition for Manitoba Pharmacy, praised comments made over the week-end
regarding internet pharmacy by the Canadian Minister of Health. "The Minister
called cross-border drug trading practices unethical and unprofessional, and
he's absolutely right," said Dueck. "I'm happy to see him supporting the
provincial medical and pharmacy regulators' efforts to stop unethical
behaviour. But this is a national problem and it calls for a national
solution. I'd like to see the federal government support the Minister of
Health and take immediate, nationwide action to end this once and for all."

    Provincial Regulators Cracking Down

    In a letter sent to members last month, the Manitoba pharmacy regulator
informed internet pharmacies in that province that they must end the practice
of "co-signing", whereby Canadian-licensed doctors are paid up to $10 simply
to add their signature to a prescription coming from the U.S. The Canadian
doctors never see or examine the U.S. patients, a practice condemned as
unethical care, by provincial medical regulators.
    Because internet pharmacies rely completely on "co-signing", cross-border
traders are now threatening to leave Manitoba, in search of provinces with
less stringent standards.
    The Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in British Columbia,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and elsewhere have censured and fined doctors
engaging in the practice of "co-signing". Some of these doctors have made
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, through this practice, which the
Coalition for Manitoba Pharmacy views as "selling signatures for cash".

    Louise Binder and Lothar Dueck are in Ottawa and available to the media
    for comment.

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