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American seniors seek Canadian prescriptions WebPosted Sun Feb 20 09:11:00 2000 MONTREAL - A group of seniors from Vermont state came to Quebec Friday in search of cheaper medication. They came on an organized trip across the border because they can't afford to fill their prescriptions at home. They are among the 33 per cent of American seniors who don't have drug insurance. Drug costs in the United States are high. Richard Harvey, an American pharmacist, said prices for prescription drugs rose by 18 per cent last year. The same medications can cost up to 80 per cent less in Canada. U.S. pharmacists blame the drug companies. In Canada, prices are regulated — the U.S. market is open. A health committee in the Vermont government is lobbying for a deal with Quebec that would allow Americans to obtain the cheaper drugs without making the trip to Canada. Vermont's governor, Howard Dean, says, "Why shouldn't we be able to buy from Canadian wholesalers, bring the pharmaceuticals down here, and distribute them through our pharmaceutical system if prices are so much cheaper in Canada?" Dean says many governors in border states are interested in these kinds of arrangements. In return, they plan to offer provinces access to the U.S. health care system. Quebec already uses it, sending some cancer patients to Vermont for treatment. Quebec's Ministry of Health has already been approached about the deal, but so far has been noncommittal. <http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2000/02/19/drugs000219> janet paterson 52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset a new voice: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ 613 256 8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario Canada K0A 1A0