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Prescription drugs: more business for Canadian online pharmacies?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration still says "don't do it." The "it" being buying prescription drugs from Canadian or any other foreign online pharmacy.
CBC News - Friday, February 27, 2009
The official line is that if you're an American buying drugs online, you could be paying for:
- Counterfeit drugs.
- Medicine that's too strong or two weak.
- Drugs made in unsafe conditions.
- Drugs that are beyond their best-before date.
The FDA says there's nothing wrong with buying online, as long as the website is located in the United States, is licensed by the state board of pharmacy where the site is operating, has a licensed pharmacist on hand to answer your questions and requires a prescription from a doctor who is licensed to practice in the United States.
But those guidelines didn't stop Americans from flooding Canadian online pharmacies with orders in the early years of the 21st century.
At its peak, the trade was estimated to have been worth more than $1 billion US annually. The FDA estimated that Americans were buying more than two million packages of prescription drugs a year from foreign sources.
But several factors began to erode the benefits to Americans of buying from Canadian online pharmacies. In 2006, changes to the U.S. Medicare plan subsidized the cost of prescription drugs for some people with Medicare coverage. It made drugs cheaper for a lot of people.
A rapidly rising Canadian dollar also narrowed some of the price differences between drugs in the two countries.
Business tailed off for Canadian online pharmacies but it didn't disappear. And there are hints that the business may be about to pick up again.
U.S. President Barack Obama's record $3.55 trillion US budget unveiled on Feb. 26, 2009, included a reference to supporting "the Food and Drug Administration's new efforts to allow Americans to buy safe and effective drugs from other countries."
Couple that with a Canadian dollar that has fallen by 20 per cent over the past six months, and you might have a recipe for an increase in business for Canadian online pharmacies.
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Doughnut Hole Video
This video clip is part of "The Problems with the Medicare Drug Problem -- and How to Fix Them" hosted by Walter Cronkite and created by FamilesUSA.
Washington, D.C., USA. July 24, 2006 |
| View the Video HERE |
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| Understanding Medicare Part D |
Medicare Calculator
ADV-Care Pharmacy is pleased to assist you with a case analysis of your prescription requirements. We have developed a Medicare Benefit calculator that will analyze Medicare costs vs. our cost and their relative savings. Just input the amount you expect to pay for your medications in U.S. retail dollars. Go to our website to calculate now!
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| Medicare and ADV-Care News Release |
Part D Helps Drug Companies the Most
Letter to the Editor, dailyherald.com. Jan 29, 2009
Read the complete article...
Time to Revisit Your Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan
Kiplinger.com Dec, 2008
Read the complete article...
Expect Changes in Drug Co-Pays for Medicare
Nov 4, 2008
Read the complete article...
Senior Citizen May Get a Shock When They See Medicare Drug Plan Premiums for 2009
October 9, 2008
Read the complete article...
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Read all the news release articles
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