Recent interdictions of Canadian drug packages by U.S. Customs agents are part of a
calculated campaign to intimidate patients who order life-saving medications from
licensed online Pharmacies. Interruptions in established medical therapy
are putting patients at unnecessary risk.
The U.S. Federal Drug Agency has been increasing confiscations of Canadian drug packages in what
appears to be an attempt at a new intentional intimidation campaign timed to coincide with the
launch of the controversial and confusing Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Seizure
rates at major border entry points have increased nearly ten-fold since December
and are accompanied by a letter that obviously intends to frighten patients
that have ordered needed medications from across the border due to their cheaper
price, and the lack of ability of many of the needy to obtain such medications
inside the U.S.. Licensed and legitimate online Canadian pharmacies are
reporting hundreds of seizures in the last 2 months. This up substantially from previous
monthly averages.
Evidence that the recent round of seizures are part of a deliberate new
policy
is substantiated by Mark Conrad, a retired U.S. Customs special agent,
after he was contacted by an anonymous whistleblower in Miami alerting
him than an intentional seizure program was underway. Officials from
Customs and Border Protection’s public affairs office in South Florida
did not return a phone call seeking comment on the operation.
The Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), a trade group in
which many of the pharmacies whose shipments were confiscated ate members in, fears that U.S. patients could
be unduly harmed as a result of the Federal Drug Administration’s political tactics.
Many in the medical field feel that die to the extremely high prices of
medications in the U.S. and the patients inability to get needed medications is
becoming a crisis for the issue of
patient safety. Specifically referring to patients with breast cancer,
heart disease and diabetes on established medication. Many fear that some of
these patients who might be going off medical regimens might be caused suffering or even dying.
Many safe and reputable pharmacies in Canada, aware of the high prices in the
American market, are worried about the sustenance of thousands of U.S.
patients on prescribed therapies, and call on the FDA and Customs
officials to verify Canadian licensure as a means of differentiating credible
online pharmacies from potentially illegitimate ones. They calim that if protecting the health
of U.S. citizens is a priority then they, the authorities, should reconsider their actions. If
this enforcement policy is doing more harm than good, that it is time to
reconsider these policies.
