Posted on 08/09/2019 11:55:46 AM PDT by Brilliant
OTTAWA — Canadians will continue to have access to the medications they need, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised Thursday in the face of escalating worry about a Trump administration decision to allow prescription drug imports from Canada.
During a visit to Iqaluit, Trudeau said Health Canada already ensures there is a “steady and solid supply” of medications for Canadians regardless of external or international pressures. He did not, however, mention drug shortage challenges that already exist.
“We recognize the new situation brought on by American announcements and Health Canada will continue to ensure that our priority is always ensuring that Canadians have access to the medication they need at affordable prices,” he said.
On Wednesday, the U.S. administration revealed a proposal aimed at allowing American patients to import cheaper medications from outside the country, under the oversight of the Food and Drug Administration.
The American proposal would allow states, wholesalers and pharmacists to get the FDA approval to import certain medications that are also available in the U.S., although few other details were released.
Canada was not consulted on the specifics of the plan ahead of time, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The office of Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said while it remains in regular contact with counterparts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about their “mutual interest” in fostering lower drug prices, details of the surprise announcement were not discussed beforehand.
The U.S. decision on Wednesday was met by sharp criticism from several groups in Canada, including the Canadian Pharmacists Association, which warned the Canadian supply cannot support consumers on both sides of the border. It also warned of worsening drug shortages in Canada and disrupted access to medications.
WATCH: Trump administration to allow U.S. patients to buy drugs from Canada
John Adams, the volunteer chairman of the Best Medicines Coalition, a non-profit organization representing 28 national patient organizations, called the proposal a “clear and present danger” to the health and well-being of Canadians who need prescription medications.
On Thursday, opposition health critics urged the federal government to take the threat seriously.
“When Canadians visit their pharmacist for the medicine they depend on, it should be available,” Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu said in a statement.
The NDP’s Don Davies urged the Liberals to detail their plans to protect Canada’s drug supply.
“We need a plan and we need a strategy that can tell Canadians exactly how this government is going to make sure that Canadians have an adequate stock pile of all necessary medication,” Davies said.
“I’m not hearing that plan. I’m just hearing vague assurances … that’s not good enough when we are talking life-saving medication.”
Davies also said he is contemplating whether to engage the House of Commons health committee to possibly recall Parliament to deal with the issue.
“I’m taking the situation very seriously and I’m not seeing the government do the same.”
lol
At least we’d find out about aliens
So, he made a direct deal with the Colombians. Nice.
BEFORE any Trump policy!!!
Canadian law allows for compulsory patent licensing I believe in case of drug shortages.
Canadians will have an ample supply of drugs since drug companies fear compulsory licensing and government contract drug manufacturing.
Canadians face brutal winters. They are hardy, no-nonsense people.
I’m sure 90% of the drugs in Canada are manufactured by U.S. owned pharmaceutical companies in the first place. They’ll just have to reroute some of their supply lines to deal with it.
Haircut pretends he cares about Canadians
It’s really the patent system that is the problem.
Yeah that’s right keep pumping those opioids for the US
Drug pricing is very complicated. Drug companies will agree to sell to state-run systems like those in Canada, at very low prices, because they know they have a huge market in the USA, patent protection, and also can milk the Federal Government and insurers here for maximum prices.
Nope. You guys need to solve your own drug pricing problems. Or not... maybe you (collectively) like the current system. Not our problem - we’ve got something that (mostly) works for us.
They are hardy, no-nonsense people.
They are for the most part spineless fractions of men. They are so busy virtue signaling, condemning America, hating Americans for their love of guns, whining, pissing and moaning about America all the while living under the US military protection so they can spend all their high tax dollars on their socialism.
Right now the us consumer is paying all the cost of R&D. I suspect that the next step will be to shorten the patent for drugs.
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