QDIS Blog

Canadian Drug Imports Are Not the Answer

by Ed Vawter @ 12:37 pm. Filed under Health News

The LA Times (and some other newspapers) had an article on recent action by the US Senate easing drug imports for personal use.

Senate Votes to Ease Drug Imports - Los Angeles Times

The US House passed similar legislation earlier this year. It basically says that US Custom officials can not seize drugs imported from Canada for personal use. It should be pointed out that this does not become law until the House and Senate work out differences. The key is that the Senate version only specifies Canada and the House version would allow imports from any country (this I do think brings about a safety concern).

Now I’m not a big fan of importing drugs for a couple of reasons. First, it merely treats a symptom instead of addressing the underlying cause. There is no way Canada can supply even a minor part of the drugs needed for US consumers! The population of Canada is ~33 million as of July 2005 and the US will reach 300 million people sometime this year. This means that the US population is almost ten times as large as Canada. If we assume that the percentage of people using pharmaceuticals is similar then even if the US bought all the drugs in Canada, only 10% of those in the US could get their drugs from Canada. THis is hardly a solution.

Also, there is talk (and it may already be happening) that pharmaceutical companies will limit the amount of a given drug that a given pharmacy can order in a given time period. If they chose to sell it into the US instead of providing it to their own people, that is there choice. Canada has also stated they may limit the exporting of drugs from Canada into the US.

CBC News: Canada to allow bans on bulk drug exports (29 June 2005)

While it doesn’t say Canada will limit exports it does indicate they could at any time.

I also have argued that this is in effect allows price controls. In Canada and most other countries in the world the government purchases the drugs at set price which is price controls. By allowing imports from Canada, our government is basically saying they agree with price control since that is how Canada prices their drugs. Although the Republicans have been against allowing drug imports citing safety concerns, I think it will indeed pass because it is an election year and this is a topic that effects seniors and most seniors vote!

Concerning the safety concern that are often brought up: I think this is something that could indeed be worked out but it would need to include a list of countries from which people could import drugs. Opening it to all countries is a mistake in my opinion. I don’t have all the answers but getting prescription drugs from Canada is at best a very short term patch to a more complicated situation.

Other Resources: (note all of these are basically the same)