Post by Ducky on Jan 13, 2005 21:38:35 GMT -5
Let's try flag tactic
Might get feds' attention on Net pharmacies
By TOM BRODBECK/wpg sun
Maybe Manitoba, as a protest, should remove all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings -- like they did in Newfoundland recently -- if Ottawa goes ahead with plans to shut down our Internet pharmacy industry. Just for a day or two, anyway.
Say what you want about Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, who last month ordered all Canadian flags removed from government buildings for a couple of weeks in a dispute over off-shore oil revenues with Ottawa. (He's since put them back). But he sure got a lot of national attention and, most importantly, the ear of Prime Minister Paul Martin.
And if that's what it takes for Ottawa to take Western Canada as seriously as it does Quebec and southern Ontario, maybe we should fold up the Maple Leaf for a couple of days, too.
Manitoba's Internet pharmacy business has been thriving in recent years, creating jobs and adding to the province's tax base.
What Internet pharmacists are doing is completely above board; filling prescriptions to patients outside Canada -- largely in the U.S. -- and making a handsome profit as a result.
The industry is the product of pure entrepreneurial prowess -- the type of free enterprise zeal we should be applauding and encouraging, not trying to beat down.
Unfortunately, the federal government is threatening to shut it down -- potentially killing about 2,000 jobs -- or at least severely crippling it.
Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh says he's concerned the practice may be unethical because doctors who co-sign the prescriptions in Canada -- after a doctor abroad has already written the prescription -- don't see the patient in person.
It's a ridiculous argument.
You're an American patient, you see a doctor, the doctor writes you a prescription and you need to get it filled.
You can get it filled at your local, licensed pharmacy or you can get it filled at a licensed pharmacy in Canada.
What's the difference, except price?
It's not as if patients are getting cyber-doctors to write them prescriptions over the Internet without seeing the patient.
NONSENSE
It's simply a question of where they're getting their prescriptions filled.
Ottawa has also raised concerns about how Internet pharmacies may be hurting our local supply of prescription drugs.
It's nonsense. The exports have had a minute impact on our local supply. And there is no shred of evidence that we've ever been short of drugs because Internet pharmacies have emptied the cupboards for U.S. clients.
The real issue here is that the drug industry in the U.S. doesn't like Canadian outlets dumping artificially cheap drugs into their market.
We have tight price controls on prescription drugs in Canada which don't exist south of the border.
As a result, we can sell our drugs cheaper than they do in the U.S.
It's a trade dispute. It's got nothing to do with ethics or supply.
But the Liberal government prefers to use those red herrings for political purposes because it's easier to sell to Canadians.
And they don't mind killing the Internet pharmacy industry -- a concession to the Bush administration -- because it would disproportionately harm Western Canada.
If it were southern Ontario or Quebec that was being affected, they'd never threaten to shut it down.
Maybe pulling a Danny Williams would give Ottawa something to think about.
---------------------------------
maybe he got something there with the flag tactic. The house of commons needs more representation from the west. Why has the fed goverment not overhaul so our vote counts in the west. The longer this unequal representation the more chances the western provinces are going to reform and become a sovereign country. And why is it we as a country is always afraid of the USA and do exactly what they say when they complain.
Might get feds' attention on Net pharmacies
By TOM BRODBECK/wpg sun
Maybe Manitoba, as a protest, should remove all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings -- like they did in Newfoundland recently -- if Ottawa goes ahead with plans to shut down our Internet pharmacy industry. Just for a day or two, anyway.
Say what you want about Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, who last month ordered all Canadian flags removed from government buildings for a couple of weeks in a dispute over off-shore oil revenues with Ottawa. (He's since put them back). But he sure got a lot of national attention and, most importantly, the ear of Prime Minister Paul Martin.
And if that's what it takes for Ottawa to take Western Canada as seriously as it does Quebec and southern Ontario, maybe we should fold up the Maple Leaf for a couple of days, too.
Manitoba's Internet pharmacy business has been thriving in recent years, creating jobs and adding to the province's tax base.
What Internet pharmacists are doing is completely above board; filling prescriptions to patients outside Canada -- largely in the U.S. -- and making a handsome profit as a result.
The industry is the product of pure entrepreneurial prowess -- the type of free enterprise zeal we should be applauding and encouraging, not trying to beat down.
Unfortunately, the federal government is threatening to shut it down -- potentially killing about 2,000 jobs -- or at least severely crippling it.
Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh says he's concerned the practice may be unethical because doctors who co-sign the prescriptions in Canada -- after a doctor abroad has already written the prescription -- don't see the patient in person.
It's a ridiculous argument.
You're an American patient, you see a doctor, the doctor writes you a prescription and you need to get it filled.
You can get it filled at your local, licensed pharmacy or you can get it filled at a licensed pharmacy in Canada.
What's the difference, except price?
It's not as if patients are getting cyber-doctors to write them prescriptions over the Internet without seeing the patient.
NONSENSE
It's simply a question of where they're getting their prescriptions filled.
Ottawa has also raised concerns about how Internet pharmacies may be hurting our local supply of prescription drugs.
It's nonsense. The exports have had a minute impact on our local supply. And there is no shred of evidence that we've ever been short of drugs because Internet pharmacies have emptied the cupboards for U.S. clients.
The real issue here is that the drug industry in the U.S. doesn't like Canadian outlets dumping artificially cheap drugs into their market.
We have tight price controls on prescription drugs in Canada which don't exist south of the border.
As a result, we can sell our drugs cheaper than they do in the U.S.
It's a trade dispute. It's got nothing to do with ethics or supply.
But the Liberal government prefers to use those red herrings for political purposes because it's easier to sell to Canadians.
And they don't mind killing the Internet pharmacy industry -- a concession to the Bush administration -- because it would disproportionately harm Western Canada.
If it were southern Ontario or Quebec that was being affected, they'd never threaten to shut it down.
Maybe pulling a Danny Williams would give Ottawa something to think about.
---------------------------------
maybe he got something there with the flag tactic. The house of commons needs more representation from the west. Why has the fed goverment not overhaul so our vote counts in the west. The longer this unequal representation the more chances the western provinces are going to reform and become a sovereign country. And why is it we as a country is always afraid of the USA and do exactly what they say when they complain.