Are Canadian Pharmacies Safe?
By Curtis Alexander, Pharm.D
America’s Natural Pharmacist
Summary: Canadian pharmacies – despite what some might say – offer the same drugs that are safe and effective but at lower prices.
Dear Curtis: I know this is probably a touchy question to ask of you but I’m in a situation where I’m looking for the best price on prescription drugs…period. I’ve looked around and the Canadian pharmacies seem to offer some of the best prices. Why are they so much cheaper across the border compared to here? Are they dangerous?
A: Well, for the sake of a lot of pharmacist’s I know who have their own stores it would be nice to say that they are inferior or that they aren’t as safe but the fact of the matter is it’s the same drugs and the same quality.
First of all, let’s address the price issue.
Let’s face it. Canadian pharmacies are a not just cheaper. They are a lot cheaper. But the next logical question is why?
Price Caps
While I’m not a true expert on the subject, from the research I’ve done Canada puts what it essentially a cap on what drug manufacturers can charge. So, a drug company charges a certain price. The wholesaler tacks on for their profit. Then a pharmacy tacks on for their profit. Since Canada limits what the manufacturers can charge the end result is a cheaper product. Now, this may all seem great to you but, actually, if we did this in America it would hurt you more than it would help you – more on that in a second.
Of course, a few years ago there was a big push for Americans to go out of country to get cheaper drugs. Especially to Mexico and Canada. The government responded by cracking down on some of those operations that offered to send drugs across the border. So, the next logical step was to suggest that the American government follow in the footsteps of Canada and place a cap on how much drug manufacturers can charge in America.
And while that might make some since you also have to take into consideration some of the differences between the countries that may account for the premium price.
The first one that comes to my mind is that America – as a whole – is a lot more litigious. Lawsuits are extremely common, frivolous and ultimately – expensive. Once you study the subject a bit you can easily see how manufacturers or all sorts of colors have to start tacking on to compensate for legal expenses. From ladders to cholesterol drugs – they all do it.
Instead of seeing price caps I’d much rather see tort reform. I think it would have a much broader – and much more positive effect. Or, institute the Old English law where if you sue someone and the other person is found to be innocent they can – in turn – sue you for not just damages but also monetary ‘reward’.
This would prohibit a lot of the ambulance chasing and so forth that goes on with the lawsuits in the medical community.
Also, keep in mind, that while American medicine is expensive – it is also extremely forward-thinking and is at the helm of a lot of today’s discoveries. I’m concerned that if you put a price cap on drug manufacturers you won’t see any more innovations because the financial incentive isn’t there.
It’s like communism versus the free market. The free market isn’t perfect but I’d sure rather have that then communism.
But I also believe that you – as an American citizen – should have the right to the best products at the best price. If a pharmacy in Canada does that and the drug is the same thing I’d like to see you have access to that. I understood that NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) made that possible but there has been a lot of political gesturing and other behind-the-doors activities that are designed to make it harder and harder for you.
The bottom line is this: the drugs are the same ones sold here and they are (from my research) as safe as what you’ll get here. Furthermore – and maybe I’ll write a more detailed article sometime about this – but many of the drugs that you buy in America are manufactured in another country: Puerto Rico, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic just to name a few. Then, they are shipped to the US and sold. In my opinion, the drugs that are sold in Canadian pharmacies are as safe and effective as what you’ll find here. In many cases – they’ll also be cheaper.