Groups fear U.S. demand will overwhelm Canadian medicine supply

RCI / By Terry Haig | english@rcinet.ca

Fifteen Canadian organizations representing patients, health professionals, hospitals, and pharmacists are urging Ottawa to take action to prevent what they say could be the “draining of Canada’s medicine supply.” which is already dealing with shortages.

The letter to Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor was signed by–among others–the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.

A letter to Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor from 15 organizations warns that Canada simply can’t supply medicine for itself and the U.S. (CBC)

It expresses concern about new legislation in the U.S. that will allow Americans to import cheaper medicines from Canada and was published before Democratic Party Candidate Bernie Sanders accompanied a so-called “insulin caravan” to Windsor, Ontario on Sunday. (Please see story elsewhere on this page.)

“The Canadian medicine supply is not sufficient to support both Canadian and U.S. consumers,” the letter states.

“The supply simply does not, and will not, exist within Canada to meet such demands.”

On Monday, I spoke with Joelle Walker.

She is Vice President, Public Affairs for the Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Categories: Economy, International, Politics, Society
Tags: Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Canadian Pharmacists Association, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Health Canada, Joelle Walker

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