Posted on 01/22/2004 7:03:02 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
</font face=tahoma>Calif. (AP) - California has joined the list of states considering buying its prescription drugs from Canada, a switch that would save millions but conflict with federal law.
A bill unveiled Thursday by Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton would allow the state Department of General Services to consider Canadian pharmacies when seeking the best price for prescription medicines.
The department buys drugs for the California prison system and state hospitals, and could save as much as $30 million by buying Canadian drugs, which are cheaper because that country negotiates maximum prices under its national health care system.
The legislatures of seven other states have debated various plans to buy drugs from Canada, but none has passed. Two U.S. cities - Springfield, Mass., and Montgomery, Ala. - have programs for buying Canadian drugs.
Federal law lets pharmacists and wholesalers import drugs from Canada - but only with the approval of the secretary of Health and Human Services. So far, Secretary Tommy Thompson and the Food and Drug Administration have deemed importing Canadian drugs too risky.
Burton blamed higher U.S. drug prices on lobbying by pharmaceutical companies, but Joe Hammang, a scientist with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, said the prices reflect the tremendous costs associated with developing drugs.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't taken a position on the bill, said spokeswoman Ashley Snee. The administration is concerned about quality control of imports, but also about "the growing cost of prescription drugs," she said.
I know our seniors in Maine have been going by bus for quite some time, over to Canada to get prescription drugs.
It's a sad day when Big Pharm sticks it to it's own people. They are really crooked, IMHO.
It's the American way to shop cheap! I'm all for taking the dollars to Canada until Big Pharm wises up.
Furthermore, if the snow birds can buy their drugs in Matamoros (where I would expect to find inferior drugs), and be just as safe and healthy as if they bought their drugs on this side, then Canadian drugs are fine too. The FDA and he pharmaceuticals are equally aware of this.
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