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Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription Medications

If you have a heart condition, diabetes or some other ailment for which you can't make it a few days without medication, be careful about ordering drugs from Canada. As if U.S. Customs doesn't have enough on its plate already, it has embarked on a new program at the Canadian border of seizing packages of prescription medication intended for U.S. patients.

We're not talking about illegal prescriptions here, but legal ones. Since Canada's drug prices are lower than those in the U.S., the pharaceutical companies here and their lobbyists in Congress don't want you to get your hands on them.

Earlier this month, the Senate voted 68-32 to approve an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill that would bar Customs from using federal funds to seize prescription drugs imported by individuals from Canada. The House passed a similar amendment in May. However, it remains unclear whether the amendment will make it into law. Drug-industry lobbyists are expected to push to scrap it when the bill goes to conference in coming weeks. The Bush administration and Republican congressional leaders have supported the industry's stance against Canadian imports.

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  • Profits before people, once again. It's steadily getting closer to Bastille-storming time.

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#2)
    by jen on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 05:42:24 AM EST
    Ah yes, 'sanctity of life' we can't have poorer or older people being able to afford both medications AND food!

    They are cheaper in Canada because the nCanadian government has impplemented price caps. That means that importing them from Canada places you in the position of being a free rider on the backs of Canadian tax payers. If you want a Canadian style health system in the US, advocate for it. But don't advocate for theft from Canadians and call it a good thing.

    JR: What part of "legal prescription" do you NOT understand? So, just what are you saying: that it is an illegal act under Canadian law (larceny, according to you) to import legal prescriptions into the United States? Cite please. Otherwise, you're spouting nothing more than typical neocon cant.

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#6)
    by jen on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 08:10:20 AM EST
    So much for free markets

    Thank you Mr. Robertson, We in Canada pay exorbitant rates of income tax, as well as sales taxes on both provincial and federal levels to pay for our health care system and even so, it is stretched to its limits. We cannot afford to subsidize the drug needs of millions of Americans.

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#8)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 08:34:04 AM EST
    Tell me again about free market economics.

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#9)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 08:40:49 AM EST
    We cannot afford to subsidize the drug needs of millions of Americans.
    canada doesn't pay a thing for american's drugs. Pure strawman.

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#10)
    by jen on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 09:00:13 AM EST
    Don't american tourists pay sales taxes?

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#11)
    by roger on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 09:04:37 AM EST
    JR, We agree on one thing; The US should have a health system like Canada's Or like almost anyone's. We pay the most, and receive little, from our system. Almost every other first world country does it better, at lower cost

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#12)
    by Sailor on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 10:58:27 AM EST
    Almost every other first world country does it better, at lower cost
    got links?

    Re: Increase in Customs Seizures of Prescription M (none / 0) (#13)
    by lilybart on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 12:23:47 PM EST
    No everyone, it is Americans who subsidize Canadian drugs. Canada has caps on how much things can cost, so Big Pharma passes along the extra costs to Americans and their health insurance companies, to keep their profits high.

    Lilybart, "No everyone, it is Americans who subsidize Canadian drugs. Canada has caps on how much things can cost, so Big Pharma passes along the extra costs to Americans and their health insurance companies, to keep their profits high." Thanks, you said it better than I did.

    JR, "That means that importing them from Canada places you in the position of being a free rider on the backs of Canadian tax payers." I think what you meant to say was that the Canadian govt. "supplements" the price of the drugs, which is very inaccurate. The Canadian govt. requires that the drug companies actually compete against each other rather than simply remain a monopoly, as it is in the US. As was implied, money before health, a founding principle of the US. /sarcasm