More Affordable Meds in USA from Canada? Not so Fast
A lot of people will know the meaning of the word complaint, but not the the word gripe. If that’s you, that’s okay – it’s not the most common of terminology. It is, however, the perfect word to describe how Americans feel about the always-increasing price of medications in America. It’s also at the core of why so many US residents want to order medication online from Canada. So here’s the definition for gripe, direct from the Merriam-Webster dictionary – ‘to complain with grumbling.’
So there it is – Americans aren’t just complaining plainly about the high cost of drugs in America, they’re doing with a noticeable unpleasantness and a sense of being totally fed up. And that grumbling is likely loudest for people with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease. Why’s that? – insulin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and the drug Synthroid are among the most needed drugs in the US but also part of the group that’s the most prohibitively expensive.
It’s a bad situation, and it gets worse by the year. As a whole, the cost of prescription drugs in the USA has increased a full 100% over the past 6 years. Meaning drug prices on average are double what they were in 2014.
Help IsWas On The Way
In July of 2020, now Ex-President Donald Trump signed a White House Executive Order that aimed to give greater access to more affordable medication for Americans. A big part of that was going to be relaxing US FDA regulations that limited the import of drugs from other countries, and ordering drugs from Canada and importing them into the country was what they had in mind.
However, Health Canada seems to have thrown a wrench into those plans with their recent announcement of a Canada export ban on medications to the USA. Protectionism is all the rage on both sides of the border these days, and it seems that’s stretching into the world of pharmaceutical medications too. However, it’s important to understand that this is not a punitive move in any way, and here’s why.
Canada does not have a robust domestic production of Rx medications, and one thing that’s very noteworthy if you read Health Canada’s release there is that Canada sources 68% of its drugs internationally.
The risk here is that if large quantities of certain drugs from Canada imported to the USA create a supply shortage in Canada that can’t be made up for because these drugs are sourced from outside of the country. The question of course becomes why the USA can’t source these drugs from the same international suppliers, and there doesn’t appear to be an answer to that.
One of the things we do know is that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for certain drugs in the USA and we’re obviously seeing that supply can’t meet demand there. This was certainly a factor in the Executive Order arriving when it did, but one of the important things to note from it is that it also aims to ‘support advanced manufacturing processes that would benefit U.S. pharmaceutical companies and increase their output capacities.’
Well, given that it’s not going to be so simple as import drugs from Canada now, perhaps that’s where the US FDA needs to be focusing their attention to make medication more affordable for Americans.
So What Now?
Here’s the thing though; this may be a serious roadblock for the US FDA for getting drugs from up North, but it doesn’t mean that individual Americans can’t order drugs from Canada online and take advantage of a more affordable Canadian Online Pharmacy. There are more than a few of them that are able to fill prescriptions written in the USA but with less expensive medication from Canada.
So if that means cheaper drugs for Americans for Canada and that’s something that you need to be able to afford your medication more easily, then you’re encouraged to find yourself a Canadian pharmacy that serves the USA and US customers.
Here’s a list of the 6 commonly prescribed medications in America, ones that can usually be drugs ordered from an online pharmacy in Canada:
- Zestril (Lisinopril)
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin)
- Synthroid (Levothyroxine)
- Glucophage (Metformin) – good choice for Type 2 diabetes medication from Canada
- Norvasc (Amlodipine)
- Lopressor (Metoprolol)
It’s nice that US residents have the option of getting meds from Canada, and there definitely are savings to be had. And for anyone who’d be considering it but has concerns about the quality, purity, or safety of meds ordered from Canada – don’t. Health Canada serves the same effective function as the US FDA when it comes to ensuring the pharmacies adhere to acceptable operating standards when it comes to dispensing medication.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
