Dear Editor:
Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh is even now preparing legislation that would make sure that bulk exports (of prescription medications) are not undertaken to the United States.
Canadian pharmacies would, therefore, be restricted in selling drugs such as Lipitor (a Japanese-formulated drug for lowering cholesterol, manufactured in Ireland and which is now imported to U.S. pharmacies and then re-exported to Canada and other countries) to U.S. municipalities.
The U.S. pharmaceutical lobby (the pay-to-play guys) has always had the Congress in its pocket; it now is reaching out to the Canadian parliament. Is money – a bribe – responsible for Canada’s most recent change of mind?
Canadian politicians might want to stop the exportation to the U.S. of the following products: grain, automotive vehicles, steel, etc. which are Canadian-derived. The U.S. population might want to help the Canadians by not bringing their tourist dollars with them on trips to Canada as sort of a quid pro quo.
The Canadian pharmacies are now helpfully advising us in making a personal decision as to safety by labeling the sources of the drugs: Canada, Australia, European Union, Israel, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore.
Perhaps U.S. pharmacies could be helpful by letting us know which drugs are imported from the above, and other countries.
We should urge our legislators to push for such labeling as soon as possible to keep us informed. The most effective way to get their attention is by casting a ballot for – or against – particular politicians. Frank X. Landrigan