Pfizer calls it a day with Canadian online pharmacies

Pfizer will stop supplying Canadian pharmacies that sell medication to American consumers. Pfizer is the world's largest drug maker. Its announcement follows an Aug. 4 directive by GlaxoSmithKline saying it will only sell drugs directly rather than through wholesalers.

The pharmaceutical giants have been fighting the ballooning Internet pharmacy business, mostly stationed in Manitoba. The e-pharmacies sell drugs to American citizens at Canadian prices, sometimes at 20 to 80 per cent less than what it costs in the U.S. Canadian online pharmacies say the move will hurt seniors. "Many of our patients can't afford the prices that these companies charge for their medications in the US, so often they go without," said Darren Jorgenson, chief pharmacist for CanadaMeds, an Internet pharmacy in Winnipeg.

"This move will just increase the difficulty these patients are going to have in obtaining the medications they need." Pfizer wants to have more control over the sale of its products, to keep drugs aimed at the Canadian market in Canada. Americans spend more than $700 million on Canadian prescription drugs a year.

"The objective (is to have) our products only to be sold in Canada for Canadian patients and that they are not for export," said Don Sancton of Pfizer Canada. John Meyers of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association says Pfizer's actions will also affect Canadian customers.

"You have to remember that most of the pharmacies that are providing the service to US consumers are neighbourhood pharmacies that are serving most of their services to Canadians," said Meyers. Meyers says Internet pharmacies may mount a claim with the federal competition bureau.

Source: RefillPill.com Editors' Choice