Wednesday, March 24, 2004

From the Canadian Press:
Internet pharmacies try to stay ahead of opponents, Mba. conference hears
Internet pharmacies are fighting to stay a step ahead of their opponents by improving standards, sharing drug supplies and curbing expectations in the United States for cheap online drugs, a conference heard Wednesday.

But critics insist the world's leading drug manufacturers won't stop squeezing the mail-order industry with blacklists, which will lead to eventual drug shortages and price increases for Canadians.

From the Calgary Herald:
CHR meets with pharmacy technicians
The pharmacy technicians who incorrectly mixed the intravenous solutions that killed two hospital patients met behind closed doors Tuesday with Calgary Health Region administrators for the first time since their deadly mistake.

Accompanied by union representatives, employees of the region's central pharmacy were briefed on how a review into their work will unfold in the coming days.

From CBC Manitoba:
Web pharmacy issues debated at conference
The pros and cons of internet pharmacies will be debated by industry and government officials in Winnipeg Wednesday and Thursday.

Officials from governments on both sides of the border, as well as internet pharmacists and representatives from major drug companies have been invited to the Copharm conference to discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding online pharmacies.

From the (Superior, Wisc.) Daily Telegram:
A national debate on merits of importing prescription drugs from Canada and overseas is overdue (editorial)
The federal government is continuing its heavy-handed approach to Wisconsin and Minnesota over their drug Web sites despite offering no evidence that anyone’s health is at risk by buying prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration blasted Gov. Jim Doyle for helping Wisconsin residents buy much cheaper drugs from Canada, bypassing the FDA’s inspections. The FDA also has sent a sharply worded letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose administration designed a Web site that directs residents to two Canadian pharmacies and preceded Doyle’s drug Web site.

From the Lowell (Mass.) Sun:
City Council seeks new legal opinion on Canada drug imports
Massachusetts communities are growing braver in defying the federal government when it comes to purchasing lower-priced prescription drugs from Canada.

Will Lowell be the next?

Six months after the city's solicitor's office advised City Council not to pursue a Canadian drug purchasing program, two Lowell officials have reintroduced the issue.

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