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U.S. Allows Cross Border Drug Shopping - Harper Government Remains Silent |
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Written by D.L. McCracken
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Friday, 13 October 2006 |
 I have a question for Prime Minister Steven Harper and his Minister of Health, Tony Clement: Why haven't either one of you publically responded to the recent U.S. legislation that allows the American consumer to cross into Canada and purchase our prescription drugs? Is it because you don't care? Or could it be because you're embarrassed? Anyone with half an interest in the cross-border prescription shopping debacle knows by now that Canada was not involved at all in the lead-up, debate and passing of this new American legislation. Legislation by the way that will have serious repercussions to Canadian drug consumers in the form of severe shortages for our own prescription needs.
So again Mr. Prime Minister and Minister Clement, why are you silent? Perhaps you fear the reaction from Canadians when they discover the consequences to such a move by the United States. It truly saddens me that I, a relatively unknown online columnist have to do your dirty work but I'm of the opinion that all Canadians have the absolute right to know what is in store for them in future trips to their pharmacist. Apparently Mr. Clement places greater importance in warnings reminding parents that infants require constant supervision (which is true but I believe parents already know this). Perhaps Mr. Harper places greater importance on releasing daily announcements of his public events for the day.
PM Harper and Minister Clement are apparently quite comfortable with the United States passing laws which will be of benefit to American citizens but will victimise Canadian citizens. Put another way, your next door neighbour and his extended family have declared that they can enter your home and take anything they need from your medicine cabinet without fear of legal reprisal. The police in your neighbourhood are aware of the situation but have chosen to ignore it. This is the basis of cross border shopping for cheaper Canadian prescription medications by Americans.
Cross border shopping for prescription drugs has been an ongoing problem for several years. Americans have been entering this country in droves, many make the trips individually while many more take advantage of U.S. tour operators who offer weekend drug shopping packages. Others use the services of privately operated bus tours and travel to Canada on a regular basis in caravan style - several buses at a time. In 2004 alone an estimated 2 million American citizens had their prescriptions filled in Canada. These prescriptions included several month's supply of each medication.
Numerous U.S. states and/or cities assist their citizens in the form of various programs in order to make cross border shopping as easy to their citizens as possible. These programs are not only for private citizens but also for employees of certain businesses as part of their employee health plans.
Until now, Americans were defying U.S. laws as it applies to the importation of medications. The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) maintained that they could not guarantee the safety of imported Canadian drugs, something that has been reinforced by U.S. President George W. Bush. However, there were very few arrests as Americans crossed the border into the U.S. carrying bags of prescription drugs.
On November 17, 2005 the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency along with the FDA began to more vigorously enforce U.S. laws regarding drug importation. Over the next 11 months, border inspectors seized tens of thousands of drugs that had been purchased in Canada by Americans. As a result, American drug consumers began a very vocal campaign to pressure their government into lifting the ban on importing prescription drugs from Canada.
Which brings us to the present. On September 21st, U.S. House and Senate Republicans agreed on a proposal that allows American citizens to cross the Canadian border for the sole purpose of purchasing prescription medications. They are now legally able to bring home 90-day supplies of each different script. Throughout the current uproar, debate, discussion and solution on the American side, there is no mention anywhere of any input from Canadian officials. We were not represented by our government on a topic that will have a direct impact on Canadians. Furthermore, the Harper government has not indicated any plans to increase the Canadian drug supply in an effort to address the new onslaught of drug purchases from the U.S.
The American side of the issue focuses entirely on the positives of cross border shopping as do powerful U.S.-based lobby groups like the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). They all say the same thing - 'our U.S. citizens deserve to have access to inexpensive medications'. What they don't say is their citizens are being allowed to shop for drugs in Canada to the direct detriment of all Canadians!
One seldom hears about the opposite side of the coin unless it comes from Canada through groups like the Ontario Pharmacist's Association or the Fraser Institute, an independent public policy organization. Because of lack of information on the repercussions of a nation of close to 300 million shopping for prescription meds in a nation of 33 million, many Canadians are not aware that our country will suffer prescription drug shortages and long waiting times in order to have their scripts filled. Imagine being prescribed a medication that, if unavailable would be considered life threatening. Imagine handing that script to your pharmacist only to be told that the drug is on "back order". That is one of the major consequences of allowing our drug supply to be pilfered by another nation.
And then there is the upcoming flu season and this year's flu shots. How may vials will go south of the 49th? How many in Canada will have a difficult time getting their shot because of that?
And still, we have heard not one word from our government on the latest U.S. legislation and the fact that Canada wasn't represented! They don't answer their emails. Absolute silence. Prime Minister Harper and Health Minister Clement have an obligation to every Canadian to keep us informed of issues that have a high potential of directly causing us harm.
What does that say about the quality of leadership in this country? We have as our leader a man who would like nothing better than to be more American. We have as our leader a man who has finally been given the opportunity to plunge our country into a war that cannot be won, a man who continues to send Canadian troops into harm's way. We have a leader who in adhereing to the Bush "with us or against us" doctrine has declared that all candidates for the Liberal leadership race, are "anti-Israeli". And apparently we have a leader who allows another nation to pilfer our drug supplies thus placing millions of Canadians in harm's way.
Prime Minister Harper has in the past shown that he has the ability to stand up to the American administration by declaring that the Arctic is situated within Canadian borders and the Northwest Passage is not an international waterway.
It's time to stand up again Mr. Harper. Declare your position one way or the other. Are you with us Mr. Prime Minister or are you against us?Have a comment? Email D.L. McCracken |
