NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/11/11/canada.drugs.ap/index.html

small country?

What I find ironic is that the FDA tries to stop this trend and yet let big shipments of flu vaccine be shipped to California.

The whole damn thing is stupid. Medicines in Canada are the SAME as those sold here. That US companies charge foreign countries less for their products is the problem. They should be charging them more and us less since US Gov't funds are often used in the research that goes into the drugs to begin with.

The whole damn thing is stupid. Medicines in Canada are the SAME as those sold here. That US companies charge foreign countries less for their products is the problem. They should be charging them more and us less since US Gov't funds are often used in the research that goes into the drugs to begin with.
Pharmaceutical companies pass contract with the buyer who just happen to be the government. The medecine is bought in bulk and at a discount price. Two entities are doing a business arrangment. If the US companies wanted, they could stop from selling. Your patriotism is misplaced in this instance.

Not to mention that some countries pay more than the price in the US. Just look at the price of AIDS medecine in africa.

small country?A little over half the population of the UK. Not large, certainly. Bulky - yes.

Most of the drugs in Canada are imported from the US, anyhow. There, they are subsidized for the consumer. That probably why remarks like this are coming out: the Canadian government fears a loss of leverage in price controls. I find this entire issue quite funny, actually.

Canada will be just fine. If I was an American as in a USA American, then I'd be freaking worried. Check out your trade deficit, or just look at your deficit.. Now that's some thing to be afraid about :eek:

Canada will be just fine. If I was an American as in a USA American, then I'd be freaking worried. Check out your trade deficit, or just look at your deficit.. Now that's some thing to be afraid about :eek:

For the better part of the past 200 years we have had both a trade and budget deficit. Yet we continue to thrive. The world goes with us, if WE go down, it will go down as well. Just like in 1929 when the US was really nothing on the world stage, our economy then, much smaller than those of Europe managed to take the world down then to. You should be far more worried than me.

For the better part of the past 200 years we have had both a trade and budget deficit..... cough..Clinton...Cough ;)

cough..Clinton...Cough ;)

Had a trade deficit......and an artificially reduced budget deficit at the expense of the military.

Ya, Biff is right, after all it's China that's been picking up the tab and the US has nothing to worry about with good friends like China right? Oh wait.... :eek:

Ya, Biff is right, after all it's China that's been picking up the tab and the US has nothing to worry about with good friends like China right? Oh wait.... :eek:

Ummm...

[looks at wrist watch]

Lets go to China!!

Most of the drugs in Canada are imported from the US, anyhow. There, they are subsidized for the consumer. That probably why remarks like this are coming out: the Canadian government fears a loss of leverage in price controls. I find this entire issue quite funny, actually.

So it's funny because we're running out of drugs for ourselves because the United Statesians keep taking them?

If US consumers are willing to shop around they can find drugs at prices comparable to those in Canada. But they won't.

"I've been buyin my rumatiz medicine from WinnDixie for almost 30 years now! I'm not changin!"

If Canada can't be Americas drugstore then what will they be?

If Canada can't be Americas drugstore then what will they be?

Happy that we aren't the US? I know I am.. :D

Hey in the slogan, isn't it supposed to be Wal-Greens? 'Wal-Greens - America's drug store'?

I dunno I've only heard of Wal-Greens, but there's something there that rings a bell...

I guess Canada should just stick to being 'America's dope connection', it seems to get fewer US lobby groups up in arms...

It's 5 PM. Time for a toke, everybody!

How about this:
"Canada: America's Walgreens"

Is there even a wal-greens in Canada?

Is there even a wal-greens in Canada?
Just checked - there is.

I'm sure they'll spread into the west soon. Wal-Mart seems to be a major player for perscriptions in the lower mainland(at least my area)

I guess I should know if there's a Wal-Greens around...I mean I live in T.O. but I'm a bona fide urban peasant. No car, just a pedestrian...and mercifully, most of those big-box stores seem to remain hidden away in the 'burbs.

O lucky me.

Big Box retail=Long Lines and cranky shoppers... oh no christmas season :eek:

Just checked - there is.
Just re-checked - I may have been mistaken.
(As they say, there's a first time for everything)

So let me get this straight. Some big health minister comes out and cries about the US giving them business. He doesn't say he's going to do anything, doesn't really tell anyone what to do, just whines about it. Is this right? Honestly, don't the big wigs in Canadian government have something better to do than cry about things that aren't yet a problem?

Now, I've lived in Ontario for two years and I've seen the health care system. It's complete garbage. "Free health care!", but perscription drugs are out of pocket, and the hospitals look like gas station bathrooms. Not to mention doctors, and almost everyone there, only showers on Saturdays, so you better pray you don't become ill at the end of the work week. Plus, half the town lived in the hospital, and they never heard of a janitor. Yuck.

I say bleed 'em dry. They don't know what to do with decent medicine anyway, might as well give it to the Americans.

I call Canadian flamebait on this last one. Ho hum. Man wants a checkup in a four-star hotel. Okay.

So let me get this straight. Some big health minister comes out and cries about the US giving them business. He doesn't say he's going to do anything, doesn't really tell anyone what to do, just whines about it. Is this right? Honestly, don't the big wigs in Canadian government have something better to do than cry about things that aren't yet a problem?

Now, I've lived in Ontario for two years and I've seen the health care system. It's complete garbage. "Free health care!", but perscription drugs are out of pocket, and the hospitals look like gas station bathrooms. Not to mention doctors, and almost everyone there, only showers on Saturdays, so you better pray you don't become ill at the end of the work week. Plus, half the town lived in the hospital, and they never heard of a janitor. Yuck.

I say bleed 'em dry. They don't know what to do with decent medicine anyway, might as well give it to the Americans.

Oh My! Are you living in a ghost town in Ontario? I happen to live in Ontario most of my 35 almost 36 years. My mother worked in a Hospital for 15 years.. my father-in-law is a doctor, a rather famous one actually.. and you could eat off the floors in the hospitals I've been in. So I therefore must conclude you're either A) bitter B) lying or C) Are living in hicksville!

Oh My! Are you living in a ghost town in Ontario? I happen to live in Ontario most of my 35 almost 36 years. My mother worked in a Hospital for 15 years.. my father-in-law is a doctor, a rather famous one actually.. and you could eat off the floors in the hospitals I've been in. So I therefore must conclude you're either A) bitter B) lying or C) Are living in hicksville!


Hehe, I'd have to agree. I can testify for the Lower Mainland in BC (north of Washington state), at the very least. Our hospitals are very clean. And the showering thing? Come on. Our doctor's are as qualified as American doctors, and we've got some of the world's most innovative medical researchers.

And what Ujjal Dasanjh means by placing our supply at risk isn't what some people seem to think. He means that some Canadians at the moment have to wait a week or more to have their prescriptions refilled in some areas because the drugs have been shipped to American consumers.

On the plus side, a drug company recently opened a new... (factory?... place where prescription drugs are produced... lol, I dunno the proper word) in Ontario, which should help.

So let me get this straight. Some big health minister comes out and cries about the US giving them business. He doesn't say he's going to do anything, doesn't really tell anyone what to do, just whines about it. Is this right? Honestly, don't the big wigs in Canadian government have something better to do than cry about things that aren't yet a problem?

Now, I've lived in Ontario for two years and I've seen the health care system. It's complete garbage. "Free health care!", but perscription drugs are out of pocket, and the hospitals look like gas station bathrooms. Not to mention doctors, and almost everyone there, only showers on Saturdays, so you better pray you don't become ill at the end of the work week. Plus, half the town lived in the hospital, and they never heard of a janitor. Yuck.

I say bleed 'em dry. They don't know what to do with decent medicine anyway, might as well give it to the Americans.

You're kidding right? 'Gas station bathrooms'?? What slum do you live in? Even my local multi-service center is better managed than that. Anything as messed up as you say would (and should) have been given a complete standards overview and operational audit.

I've been to several hospitals in my city and they are spotless and well-run, as well as the fore-mentioned multi-service centre.

BTW I live near Halifax, NS.

Yes, drugs are out of pocket, they are in the USA too (and they ARE cheaper here). It's surgery (non-cosmetic, although some cosmetics are allowed for burn victims and the like), checkups, some support equipment (braces, casts), and common diagnostic tests that are free.

Although they have been thinking about adding drugs to that list of freebies as well (even if some politicians think its a pipe-dream).

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/whatsnew/pharmacarepr.html

I have no idea where you are getting your proof of Canada's 'complete garbage' system but its completely wrong. Your chauvinistic rancor reveals your obvious bias, I don't care where you live.

If the place is as nasty as you say, lodge a complaint with the Department of Health and get some inspectors in there. I would.

Yes, socialized medicine is sooo evil.

Please.

Expect some whining about having to wait six hours in an ER to have a sliver looked at, or worse. You're either happy with socialized medicine, or happy to pay through the nose. Unfortunately for me, I have this problem passing currency through my nostrils. It makes me pull my own slivers out.

Wow. I din't have to rent a four-star hotel room to do it, either.

Wow.

Happy that we aren't the US? I know I am.. :D
Actually Steph, I'm quite happy living in a country in which my intelligence allows me to rise above everyone else.

In addition, the shear power of the country is almost up for grabs so long as your decently rich. Well guess who's goin for that power.