Canada reins in Internet drug sales

TORONTO, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A growing number of Canadian online pharmacies are no longer willing to accept bulk orders from U.S. states and municipalities, the Financial Times said Monday.

Concern in Canada that growing exports could lead to rising prices and shortages north of the border has prompted the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, whose members include several of the biggest Internet and mail-order drugstores, to act.

"We don't want to give Americans the impression that we have unlimited supply for them to tap into on a commercial basis," said David Mackay, the association's executive director. "We can't be your complete drugstore."

So far, about 30 pharmacies have decided not to accept bulk orders of prescription drugs from U.S. states and municipalities.

Prescription drug prices are significantly lower in Canada than the United States, because of price controls and bulk buying by the 10 provinces.

States such as Minnesota and New Hampshire, have set up Web sites directing residents to approved pharmacies in Canada, which CIPA members said they would continue to serve. But Mackay said they would not deal with states such as Illinois and Wisconsin, that have proposed turning over their entire drug supply system.