Rx From Canada Extended

February 26, 2006
Wisconsin State Journal

A program that lets Wisconsin residents order prescription drugs from Canada has been extended for two more years, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday.

The program, launched in 2004, allows residents to use a state Web site to order drugs from three pre-approved Canadian pharmacies.

"Over the past two years, this Web site has proven that buying drugs from Canada is a safe and affordable option that should be available to more people," Doyle said in a statement.

The program was scheduled to expire Friday. Under the terms of the extension, the state will again send inspectors to approve each pharmacy.

Between February 2004 and November 2005, 4,704 orders covering 7,491 prescriptions were placed through www.drugsavings.wi.gov, Doyle said. In that period, the site received an average of 298 visits per day.

All three pharmacies have licenses in good standing with the relevant Canadian licensing bodies, Doyle said.

The Bush administration opposes prescription drug imports, and federal regulators warn they cannot guarantee the safety of drugs from outside U.S. borders. Doyle said Wisconsin's experiences prove otherwise.

"None of the dire predictions of the Bush administration has come true," Doyle said.

The program mandates that a patient's initial prescription be filled through a local pharmacy to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the drug. But patients can order refills from the three Canadian pharmacies.

The program permits patients to order only non-refrigerated name-brand drugs since generic drugs are usually less expensive domestically.

The three pharmacies are CanadaDrugs.com Partnership of Winnipeg, Total Care Pharmacy Ltd. of Calgary and Granville Pharmacy of Vancouver.