While U.S. is still debating whether they want cheap drugs from Canada. Canadian government is mulling whether to ban on bulk drug exports to U.S. for the sake of Canadian people.
CTV
In order to avert a potential drug shortage in Canada, federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said Tuesday that he's considering prohibiting bulk medicine exports south of the border.
"We will certainly look at the possibility of bulk exports to the United States and see if they can be banned," the minister said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday.
"One of the options that's being developed and fully analyzed is that option. The work is almost complete and we will be taking that to cabinet in the next little while, unless of course an election is called."
The minister said Tuesday that it is likely that U.S. Congress will soon pass legislation that would allow unlimited imports of medication.
"But the bulk exports are more dangerous because bulk exports if allowed will lead to an increase in prices in Canada due to the shortage of supply and may in fact endanger and threaten our price-control regime."
Earlier Tuesday, a coalition of pharmacists, doctors and patients cautioned that Canada could face a shortage of drugs if U.S. legislation passes.
"We are sleepwalking toward a calamity," Jeff Poston, executive director of the Canadian Pharmacists Association, told reporters.
"U.S. politicians are preparing to throw the drug import doors wide open."
Poston said this could overwhelm Canada's price regulation system.
In Canada, prices are set by the Patent Medicines Prices Review Board. Cross-border trade is thriving, mainly over the Internet, as medication is cheaper in Canada than in the United States.