Sunday, March 28, 2004

From WCCO-TV (Minn.):
State Program To Buy Canadian Prescription Drugs Is Busy
Officials say that nearly 400 Minnesotans have ordered low-cost prescription drugs from Canada through a state-operated program started two months ago by Governor Pawlenty.

At the same time, the Minnesota RxConnect Web site has been visited more than 67-thousand times, and its phone line has received 14-hundred-and-50 calls.

From the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
War over drug imports heats up
Congress' search for a cure to the surging costs of prescription drugs has always stopped at the border.

Some seniors have skirted U.S. law by mail-ordering cheaper prescription medicines from Canada and Mexico. City mayors and the state of Minnesota sought budget savings by buying foreign drugs for public employees.

From WGRZ-TV (NY):
Queen City Councilman Wants to Consider Canadian Prescription Plan for Workers
A Common Councilman wants the Queen City to consider Canada when buying prescription drugs for its workers.

In a recent resolution passed by the Common Council, the Buffalo’s Human Resources Commissioner was asked to investigate that possibility, and file a report with the Council no later than April 8th.

"You can get these drugs in Canada at a much lower cost than in the United States," said Delaware District Councilman Marc Coppola.

From Minnesota Public Radio:
Pawlenty vs. the FDA
Minnesota's Web site contains information on two Canadian pharmacies, one in Vancouver and one in Calgary. It's part of Gov. Pawlenty's strategy for streamlining access to cheaper prescription drugs available across the border, where government price controls keep costs down.

The Web site includes an order form that must be printed out and mailed or faxed to the pharmacies. There's no direct link to the two pharmacies, and prescriptions can't be ordered through the Web site. At a prescription drug summit in Washington, D.C., Gov. Pawlenty said the site addresses safety concerns.

"It reflects the work that we have done by going to visit and to evaluate various Canadian pharmacies, to make sure that they are safe and reputable and established and credible," Pawlenty said.

Investment board demands Pfizer end battle against Canadian imports
The State Board of Investment waded into the prescription drug debate by trying to hit Pfizer where it hurts the most -- the bottom line. The board approved a resolution to ask Pfizer shareholders to begin the process of forcing the pharmaceutical company to restructure its global prescription drug pricing system.

The proposal, initiated by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, also calls on Pfizer to continue shipping drugs to all wholesalers in Canada and to fully disclose its lobbying, legal and marketing costs.

Pawlenty says the state will now take the resolution to the company's annual meeting, with the hopes that other shareholders will vote in favor of it. If it gets enough shareholder support, Pawlenty says it would force Pfizer to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S.

No comments: