Pharmacy News

Canada drugstore closures vex locals

U.S. cracks down on sales of cheap meds
By Elaine Gaston
The Sun News

Barb and John Tuttle save hundreds of dollars a year buying Canadian medications.

The Myrtle Beach couple, who have no drug insurance coverage, are worried they may not be able to afford their prescriptions if the U.S. government closes businesses that make it easier for people like them to buy less-expensive medicines from Canada.

"It's really going to hurt us," said Barb Tuttle who, with her husband, has several medications shipped to them through Canada Drug Service, a new Myrtle Beach business. "It will be a terrible imposition for us. We would try any way we could to do it on our own."

So far, Canada Drug Service at 5001 N. Kings Highway has avoided orders by the state and federal government to close up shop, unlike several other stores across the state and country that have been warned.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Justice Department ordered Rx Depot to shut down its 85 storefronts because the department said the company violates federal laws by helping U.S. consumers import drugs from Canada. Only manufacturers are allowed to bring medicines into the country.

Two of the Rx Depot storefronts are in South Carolina, in North Charleston and Camden. The S.C. Board of Pharmacy issued those businesses and two others cease-and-desist orders for failing to obtain licenses to dispense medications. The board enforces laws and regulations relating to pharmacies and pharmacists for the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Caroline Avey, owner of Canada Drug Service, issued a written statement Thursday.

"I am helping people buy affordable medicines from Canada," Avey wrote. "Is it morally right to prevent people from getting quality medicines at affordable prices? It is unfortunate that our system tolerates people either choosing to take their medicine or pay for food or rent. Until the system changes, it appears that there will be a battle between those who want to maintain the status quo and the millions of Americans who are being overcharged."

In newspaper advertisements, Canada Drug Service said it is affiliated with a family-owned group of seven licensed pharmacies in British Columbia, Canada. Prescriptions are faxed to Canada, and customers are then mailed their medications.

Jim Knight, spokesman for the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, said it appears the business is representing itself as a pharmacy, which violates state law.

"It sounds similar to operations that we issue cease-and-desist orders to," Knight said. "But to know for sure, we'd have to do our investigation."

The business also has caught the eye of local pharmacists. Brian Musgrove of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Surfside Beach said he sympathizes with people without drug coverage but he's concerned businesses like Canada Drug Service put people at risk of obtaining substandard medications.

"I have mixed feelings about it," Musgrove said. "I understand patients without any insurance are trying to make their dollar go as far as they can. The only problem is by going to Canada, they're circumventing all the safety stops put in place for their safety."

He said the Canadian drugs could be old or counterfeit.

"That's why it is illegal, because we can't verify the source of these medications," Musgrove said. "I don't blame these patients, but there's got to be a better solution to the problem."

Avey responded by writing: "I understand the [Food and Drug Administration's] position of wanting to protect the American people from getting substandard medicine, but as far as I know, no one has ever been harmed from taking medicines from Canada."

The Tuttles said they've been importing Canadian medications for more than a year, initially using an online Canadian pharmacy. They've since switched to Canada Drug Service and have experienced no problems with prescriptions or service, they said.

"We've been getting them within 10 days," John Tuttle said of the prescriptions. "We haven't had any problems whatsoever."

The Tuttles, who said they save more than $100 a month on prescriptions, fear they will have difficulty making ends meet if they can no longer obtain Canadian medicines.

"It would double the price of our medicines," John Tuttle said. "I'm upset because there's a lot of people in situations like ours. ... So it's real important that we keep the channel open to Canada."