Canadian Online Pharmacies Still Open for Business, Says CanadaUSPharmacy.com
An announcement by Canada's Health Minister to ban “bulk” drug exports will not affect the popular mail order trade. American patients can still look north for affordable prescription drugs.
Winnipeg, Manitoba (PR Web) June 30, 2005 -- Canada's Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh recently announced measures to monitor and regulate Canada's online pharmacy industry but none of the proposed initiatives look to be detrimental to the current mail order trade to individual U.S. patients. Americans who rely on more affordable Canadian medications can rest assured that the service will continue uninterrupted.
“It's business as usual for our pharmacy and we are continuing to dispense every order,” says David Chan owner of CanadaUSPharmacy.com (http://www.canadauspharmacy.com) in Winnipeg, Canada. “The Health Minister's plan still has to be legislated and it is not necessarily adverse to our practice. The bottom line is that we may face some regulatory changes but this trade will continue.”
In general, plans introduced by the Canadian Health Minister to be addressed in the fall include:
A drug supply monitoring network designed to gather data with the intent of averting a potential domestic supply shortage
A periodic ban on bulk exports as required related to supply of specific drugs
Re-defining the relationship between the Canadian doctor and U.S. patient to satisfy medical regulators
Although few specifics have been offered, it is clear that none of the steps will immediately de-rail the thriving online pharmacy trade.
“The Minister has indicated that he does not intend to kill the industry and has signaled that he is willing to work with all stakeholders,” says David MacKay, consultant to the Canadian online pharmacies. “That's a positive gesture and we intend to take him at his word and work collaboratively to arrive at some common ground.”
As a responsible pharmacy owner, David Chan emphasizes that licensed Canadian pharmacies have always been eager to cooperate with government regulators to demonstrate that their operations are legitimate and safe. “Our philosophy is that it is better to regulate this practice in the sunshine so our patients know that they are receiving approved drugs from licensed sources. We have nothing to hide, in fact we have sought additional accreditation” he adds.
As further support Chan points to some common sense steps that U.S. patients can take to avoid being deceived by unscrupulous and illegitimate drug suppliers. These steps can be viewed at http://www.ciparx.ca/art-steps-to-ensure-safety.html
CanadaUSPharmacy.com is a licensed pharmacy located in Winnipeg, Manitoba (provincial license # 32791) and is certified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) as well as IMPAC accredited (see http://www.impacsurvey.org). CanadaUSPharmacy.com has safely served over 100,000 U.S. patients over the last 3 years. All Canadian drugs dispensed are approved by Health Canada.
For more information call 1-877-888-3323 or visit http://www.canadauspharmacy.com
Media Contact:
David Chan
CanadaUSPharmacy.com
(204) 771-1388
New law prevents large purchases of Sudafed
June 12, 2005 -- The average cold-remedy customer should still be able to get all the Sudafed they need.
But someone who wants to buy enough of it to cook the illegal drug methamphetamine will have a harder time starting today.
A new law limits the sale of over-the-counter cold remedies in which the sole active ingredient is pseudoephedrine.
The best known such drug is Sudafed -- but there are a number of store-brands as well.
Starting today, consumers can buy no more than nine grams, or three boxes, of pseudoephedrine at each pharmacy visit.
The new law also requires pharmacies to keep the pills behind the counter instead of on the shelves.
Walgreens Pharmacies Will Be Open and Serving Patients as Bargaining Continues With Chicago-Area Pharmacists
DEERFIELD, Ill., July 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Walgreens pharmacies in the Chicago area, Rockford and northwest Indiana will be open and serving pharmacy patients while the company negotiates a new labor agreement with its local pharmacists union.
Walgreens is confident it will reach a fair agreement, as it has over the past 37 years. "Obviously, we're disappointed that negotiations have come to this point," said Walgreens spokesperson Michael Polzin. "We're also surprised the union would call a work stoppage even though they requested -- and we agreed -- to meet on July 7."
Walgreens has the best-staffed pharmacies, is a leader in pharmacy safety and is offering to pay its union pharmacists well over $100,000 a year for a 40-hour work week.
In addition, those pharmacists are eligible for industry-leading benefits that include a stock-option plan and a profit-sharing program that matches more than $3 for every dollar the pharmacist contributes.
Walgreens also has proposed a new staffing review system to eliminate the bureaucratic red tape that plagues the current system. Right now, more than 90 percent of pharmacists covered by the review system don't use it. And the ones that make requests don't receive an answer for two to three months. Walgreens proposal replaces that system with a more efficient method that provides the pharmacist an answer within 10-20 working days.
The National Pharmacists Association, a local organization composed entirely of Walgreens staff pharmacists in the Chicago area, called for a work stoppage to begin at 10 p.m. central time, July 6, even though the union previously requested -- and Walgreens has agreed -- to meet on July 7.
Walgreens will continue providing pharmacy service to its Chicago-area patients, as it has for more than 100 years. During the work stoppage, Walgreens stores will remain open their normal hours. Walgreens pharmacy hours will be scheduled as follows:
-- Non-24-hour pharmacies will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
-- The following 24-hour pharmacies will remain open 24 hours:
- 522 Torrence Ave., Calumet City
- 5600 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago
- 1554 E. 55th St., Chicago
- 11 E. 75th St., Chicago
- 780 Waukegan Road, Deerfield
- 100 N. Randall Road, Lake in the Hills
- 498 N. Weber Road, Romeoville
-- All other 24-hour pharmacies will be open 8 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.
Walgreen Co. (NYSE, Nasdaq: WAG - News) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2004 sales of $37.5 billion. The company operates 4,834 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Walgreens also provides additional services to pharmacy patients and prescription drug plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives (a pharmacy benefits manager), Walgreens Mail Service, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walgreens Home Care.
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Source: Walgreen Co.