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Canadian Groups Rip U.S. Drug Importation Rule

March 20, 2020

The Trump administration’s plan for importing drugs from Canada will not result in lower prices for Americans, according to a slew of comments from drugmakers, industry groups and the Canadian government on the FDA’s proposed rule.

“Canada simply does not have the drug supply or capacity to service the American market,” said an alliance of 17 Canadian groups that included the Canadian Medical Association and drug distribution giant McKesson.

In their joint letter, the organizations said they feared the administration’s plan would complicate Canada’s drug oversight and worsen its ongoing drug shortages. They noted that when the U.S. government tried to import drugs from Canada in 2000, the country responded with legislation to block it.

The Embassy of Canada noted that Canada imports 68 percent of its finished drugs and its market is too small to meet U.S. demands. The country has seen shortages for 10 to 15 percent of its drugs over the past three years.

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