Monday, November 06, 2006

Cheaper Canadian prescription drugs make the agenda in U.S. midterm elections

The American midterm elections are on Tuesday. Buying medications from Canada is not as big an issue as it was in the last election, but some politicians are trying to score points with voters by supporting the concept.

Regardless of the results, I don't see much of an alteration from the status quo. Even though some Republicans are in favour of the idea, the Bush administration is staunchly against Canadian pharmacy purchases. The FDA won't stand for any attempts to skirt its authority either. Bulk exports won't be allowed, and any changes to the personal imporatation rules will only result in mild to moderate improvement in Canadian internet pharmacy sales. It's simply not as appealing for individual consumers to buy from Canada than it was a few years ago because of the exchange rate, Medicare Plan D, and the supply clampdown by the pharmaceutical companies.

From the Canadian Press:
Canada's prescription drugs are on the ballot in the U.S. midterm elections.

Many Democrats, and even some Republicans, have been campaigning to open the door to cheaper Canadian medicines in the fight to control Congress.

If Democrats fulfil the predictions of pollsters by capturing the House of Representatives, and perhaps the Senate in Tuesday's votes, the drug issue will be near the top of their agenda. ...more

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