KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasCanadian Pharmacy Exports
Contact Reporter Adrian Arambulo
Even though Nevadans could soon buy drugs legally from Canadian pharmacies, Canada says it's not going to continue to be the bargain drug store for the U.S. Still, one state lawmaker says there is no reason for people planning to buy Canadian drugs to worry.
Many Nevada residents are excited by the prospects of using a state-run website to buy Canadian prescription drugs. The reason being -- they're about a third of the price of drugs here in the states.
But Wednesday, Canada's health minister Ujjal Dosanjh said Canadians should never be denied medication because of a shortage. And he plans to introduce legislation to ban exports when supplies are low at home.
In addition to the legislation, Health Minister Dosanjh plans to create a drug supply network that monitors inventory. "In view of the fact that there's a great likelihood of American legislation passing on the legalization of bulk imports from Canada from prescription and other needed drugs, we decided we want to create tools within government to deal with three issues."
Earlier this month, the Nevada Legislature created a new law that would allow residents to buy prescription drugs through an online service.
Eyewitness News spoke with Democrat Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley and she says there is no reason for Nevadans to worry. She says there is always the possibility that this Canadian legislation might not pass -- plus the legislation focuses on bulk quantities, not on the smaller quantities that patients might buy.
Buckley said, "It sounds like a lot of the same old stuff we've been hearing for months, and we just have to monitor the situation. In the meantime, I'm committed to moving ahead with our law allowing Nevadans to see huge price breaks."
The next step is for the Nevada Board of Pharmacy to review Canadian pharmacies' procedures and begin licensing.
Nevada residents should be able to buy these cheaper drugs by this fall.
