Legislative Delegation Says Prescription Drugs From Canadian Pharmacies Safe

An 11-member legislative delegation on Wednesday said that prescription drugs purchased from Canadian pharmacies are safe, the Contra Costa Times reports. The delegation, which includes health officials, lobbyists and political aides, visited Canadian pharmacies to determine whether state residents could safely purchase prescription drugs from them. Based on the results of a three-day visit in July, members of the delegation said that they support a state-sponsored Web site to help state residents purchase prescription drugs from Canada. Two bills (SB 1149 and AB 1957) under consideration in the Legislature would establish such a Web site; both have passed in their houses of origin but are opposed by the Board of Pharmacy over concerns that such a Web site would violate federal law.

Gary Passmore, executive director of the Congress of California Seniors, said, "California seniors and consumers have been misled," adding, "They have been frightened by drug makers and misled by FDA with claims that drugs from Canada are not safe." However, FDA Associate Commissioner William Hubbard said, "The most important concern for the FDA is that we have no regulatory control over these products," adding, "I'm not saying that every American is getting a bad drug ... (but) we do know that there have been problems" (Silber, Contra Costa Times, 8/5).