U.S. threatens to sue Rx Depot over Canadian drugs

[inanna]

MIAMI — The U.S. Justice Department today threatened to sue the president of Rx Depot unless he shuts down the chain of stores that arranges sales of prescription drugs from Canada to U.S. senior citizens.

<snip>

The department said the stores violate federal law by helping U.S. consumers import drugs from Canada. Only manufacturers are allowed to bring medicines into the country.

Moore said he has no intention of signing the agreement.

"Just because this is the federal government, this does not scare me," Moore said. "I look forward to my day in court."

...

http://www.thetorontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1063103648851&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968705899037

[dutchdemocrat]

1. NAFTA

Five letters. American want's free trade that only benefits it.

Let them grow old in peace with cheaper drugs so they can eat well and maybe have some dignity which they deserve.

------------

Published on Wednesday, December 6, 2000 in the Omaha World-Herald
No Wonder Seniors Buy Canadian Drugs
Editorial

The Canadian cross-border trade in pharmaceuticals continues to expand with the opening of a Web site for doctors willing to act as go-betweens for their elderly patients. That helps increase the pressure on the drug industry as well as Congress to address the problem of high costs.
Some older Americans have for years headed across the United States' northern border to buy the medicines they need but can't afford. Drug prices there can be half or a quarter of prices in the United States.

Canadian drug prices are so much lower because the country's system of socialized medicine keeps a tight hold on pharmaceutical costs. In addition, U.S. drug prices are high because companies add the cost of research and development as well as the price of lobbying and expensive advertising campaigns.

Senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed incomes and use more drugs than other Americans, feel the pinch. Horror stories abound: A Vermont woman who paid $95 a month for the tamoxifen that kept breast cancer at bay now goes to Canada, where the drug costs her $125 a year. An older couple who were paying thousands of dollars a year for medicines were able to cut that expenditure in half by a regular northward journey.

Some charitable organizations sponsor drug-buying trips, and a small industry has sprung up to help seniors. Chartered buses operate on a regular schedule from many areas within a day's drive - or sometimes more - of Canada. Once there, seniors see sympathetic Canadian doctors or U.S. doctors with licenses to prescribe drugs in both the United States and Canada. Pharmacies near the border accommodate Americans gladly; some even offer amenities such as free sandwiches while customers wait.

Now the United Health Alliance of Arlington, Vt., has opened a Web site that shows any doctor how to obtain drugs from Canada for patients. Using a fax machine, a standardized prescription form and the patient's credit card number, doctors can have drugs shipped to their office, where patients can pick them up.

SNIP

http://www.commondreams.org/views/120600-105.htm

[dutchdemocrat]

2. Kick

This does not deserve to be ignored.

[Occulus]

3. Um....

is this a typo?

"A Vermont woman who paid $95 a month for the tamoxifen that kept breast cancer at bay now goes to Canada, where the drug costs her $125 a year."

Things that make you go hmmmmm......

[dutchdemocrat]

4. hmmm....

I pay US$60 a month here in Holland and that gets me full dental, medical and all prescriptions included.

It works. And it is not all that expensive. Why is medicare so blatantly ignored in America?

Universal medicare and socialized medicine would cost less than what America is paying to 'free' Iraq from the horrible satanic despot who blew down the twin towers...

I find it all very strange.

Things that make me go hmmm....

[dutchdemocrat]

5. dupe

v