Monday, April 12, 2004

From the Toronto Star:
Report drug 'artificial shortages,' Canadians told
Canadians are being encouraged by an American organization to report cases where they are unable to get prescription medication due to supply cutbacks by pharmaceutical companies looking to stem the Internet drug trade.

"It is appalling for us to contemplate a scenario under which U.S. drug companies create artificial shortages of life-saving medicines in another country in the hopes of drying up the supply of lower-priced medications for American citizens," said Pam Solo, president of the Massachusetts-based Civil Society Institute.

While Solo said she had no evidence that companies are holding back supplies, she said there is growing concern about drug shortages on both sides of the border.

From the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
MN Senior Federation seeks to pressure Pfizer over Canada cutoff
A Minnesota seniors organization on Monday announced a publicity campaign against drug giant Pfizer, saying the company seems to be succeeding in its efforts to block Americans from buying its drugs through Canadian pharmacies.

Leaders of the Minnesota Senior Federation, which runs a drug importation program for its roughly 6,000 members, said they hope to spark "10 days of outrage" before the company's annual meeting in St. Louis on April 22.

From Reuters:
U.S. Seniors' Group Urges Pfizer Drug Boycott
A senior citizens' advocacy group on Monday urged consumers to boycott Pfizer Inc.'s over-the-counter medicines, to protest the No. 1 drug maker's efforts to stem the flow of prescription drugs from Canada.

The Minnesota Senior Federation said it called for the boycott of Pfizer's nonprescription products, which include antacid Rolaids and cold medicine Sudafed, to protest Pfizer's move to cut off sales of prescription drugs to some Canadian wholesalers.

U.S. pharmaceutical companies are stepping up the battle to halt prescription drug sales from Canada, as consumers and employers grapple with domestic double-digit medical cost inflation.

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