For Immediate
Release, 1/10/2003 Congressman calls for legislation to end Glaxofs strong arm
tactics
WASHINGTON – In a move that is sure to re-ignite the battle in Congress
over Americansf ability to purchase lower price prescription drugs from
Canada, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has informed Canadian
pharmacies and wholesalers who sell into the U.S. that they will no longer
be able to buy Glaxo products after January 21, 2003. Rep. Bernard Sanders
(I-VT) -- the first member of Congress to take constituents across the
border to highlight the disparity in prescription drug prices between the
United States and Canada -- responded sharply to Glaxofs threat, calling
it a gdirect attack on the health of American prescription drug
consumers.h
Glaxo sent letters to each of its wholesalers, distributors and
retailers in Canada this week threatening to cut off their supply of
life-saving drugs if they sell any of Glaxofs products to U.S. consumers
or to any one of 27 Canadian retailers who sell prescription drugs to U.S.
consumers. It is rumored that similar letters from other pharmaceutical
companies may be imminent.
While difficult to quantify, the Food and Drug Administration estimates
that some two million prescriptions will be filled in Canada for American
patients this year. Americans are increasingly looking to Canada to fill
their prescriptions because drug companies charge consumers in the U.S.
the highest prices in the world for the same medications, generally
manufactured in the same plants.
Sanders said that Glaxo is trying to cut off Americans from reasonably
priced medicines regardless of the impact on their health, gAt a time when
millions of Americans are struggling to afford the outrageously high price
of prescription drugs in the U.S., Glaxo is trying to slam the door on a
safe and affordable source of medicine for an increasing number of
Americans, namely Canada. The outrage is that for some of these people
this really is a matter of life and death. Once again, Glaxo is showing
that for the pharmaceutical industry the health of their corporate coffers
always comes before the health of American patients.h
In recent years, the U.S. House of Representatives has repeated voted
in favor of preserving individual Americanfs ability to buy prescription
medications for their own personal use in Canada. Just this week, Senator
Daschle introduced a prescription drug bill that would fully authorize the
purchase of prescription medicines from Canada.
Sanders predicted the U.S. House would act to protect Americans who buy
medicines from Canada and pledged to introduce legislation to prevent
Glaxo and other drug companies from strong arming Canadian pharmacies and
wholesalers. gThe U.S. Congress cannot sit idly by while Glaxo or any
pharmaceutical company cuts off American consumers who are already getting
safe, affordable prescription medications from Canada. The first bill I
will introduce in the 108th Congress will put an end to this
pharmaceutical company bullying.h
A copy of the Glaxo letter is available upon request.
Sanders: Drug Giant Glaxo Moves to Cut Off Supplies to Canadian
Pharmacies Selling to Americans
Printed From Congressman Bernie Sanders' (I-VT)
Website:
http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20030110170032.asp