It is no secret that the FDA and the US pharmaceutical industry are not big fans of Canadian pharmacies. Run an internet search on purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies and you will see for yourself. To believe the critics, said pharmacies only exist to rip people off and compromise their health.
If you are opposed to online Canadian pharmacies shipping prescription medications to US customers, here’s a question: what would you have consumers do? There are reasons companies like Canada Pharmacy are thriving. There are reasons consumers are willing to get their prescriptions online rather than going down to the local pharmacy.
Bad Apples in Every Bushel
One of the chief complaints lodged against Canadian pharmacies is the fact that they could be selling counterfeit or mislabelled drugs to both consumers and healthcare providers. It has happened in the past. But such thinking defies all logic.
There are bad apples in every bushel. How many licensed doctors have been successfully prosecuted for breaking the law just in our lifetimes? Does that make every doctor suspect? Of course not. The FDA would not recommend people avoid going to the doctor because a small minority of clinicians have been prosecuted. So why raise the red flag against Canadian pharmacies because a minority have been found in violation of the law?
Potentially Unscrupulous Practices
Complaints lodged by American pharmaceutical companies are even more dubious. They are quick to point out the possibility that Canadian pharmacies could be engaging in potentially unscrupulous practices. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Big Pharma is far from being as pure as the driven snow. We have seen plenty examples of pharmaceutical companies pushing the envelope or outright breaking the law.
Arguing against legitimate Canadian pharmacies because they are not FDA regulated is another straw dog. Licensed Canadian pharmacies are regulated by Canadian authorities whether they sell online or not. And while there may be some that are not properly licensed and regulated, they are not limited to Canada. There are bogus operations in the US as well.
Pricing Consumers Out
The disingenuousness of Canadian pharmacy critics would be laughable if not for the reasons consumers choose to buy their medications north of the border. Simply put, US consumers are being priced out of the domestic market. It is no more complicated than that.
Canadian pharmacies are providing the same prescription medications at a fraction of the cost. They are doing what the US pharmaceutical industry should do but refuses to do. And rather than looking for practical ways to reduce prescription drug prices, big Pharma and their partners in government and private health insurance continue adjusting the rules to benefit themselves at the expense of consumers.
Those having to choose between buying their prescription drugs and paying the rest of their bills often feel like they have nowhere else to go. What is the government’s solution? Medicare for all. Let the government pay for it and then consumers will not have any worries. That is all well and good – until tax rates explode.
Consumers Ultimately Pay
One way or the other, the consumer must ultimately pay the cost of prescription drugs. Consumers will pay for them out-of-pocket, through insurance premiums, or through their taxes. So as long as government and corporate America stay in bed together, the consumer doesn’t have a whole lot of options.
If you don’t think people should be purchasing prescription medications from online Canadian pharmacies, what else would you have them do? Unless you are willing to pay the bill, you don’t have much of a leg to stand on.
