Publisher of TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com, leading internet site for seniors, assails Bush Administration role in attack
on seniors’ access to Canadian prescriptions

St. Louis, MO, December 16, 2004—The Publisher of one of the nation’s leading informational web sites serving seniors today assailed the administration of President George W. Bush for its role in attacking seniors’ access to Canadian prescription drugs.
 

Daniel Hines, publisher of www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com, noted that recent attacks within Canada against internet-based Canadian pharmacies ‘coincides and dovetails’ with the President’s visit to Canada to discuss trade issues.
 

According to the International Pharmacy Association of British Columbia (IPA BC) Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal Minister of Health, who has led the attack against internet-based pharmacies, has admitted that the President raised the issue of international pharmacies during his meetings in Canada.  Also, the New York chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans issued a warning before the President’s visit that there would be an attack upon internet-based pharmacies in an attempt to tie them in with other aspects of the Bush trade policy against Canadians such as tariffs on Canadian lumber and restrictions upon Canadian beef.
 

“The Bush Administration has repeatedly shown its subservience to large pharmaceutical companies,” Hines noted.  “It has accepted large contributions, thwarted the will of the U.S. Senate to allow a vote on bi-partisan legislation that would facilitate reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, stood by passively while large pharma is engaged in illegal market actions that have led to law suits by 20 state attorneys general, failed in its watch as the Food and Drug Administration has come under increasing attack from Democrats and Republicans for its failure to fulfill its function of guaranteeing the safety of drugs such as Vioxx, and it has been the author of a flawed and unworkable Medicare prescription drug plan that is of benefit only to his allies, the drug company manufacturers.
 

“Now, under the guise of trade talks, he has obviously expanded his attack on behalf of drug companies into Canada, with the result being that certain Canadian interests have launched an attack on internet-based pharmacies by suggesting that legitimate, licensed pharmacies ‘threaten’ the integrity of the Canadian health care system and pose a danger to ensuring an adequate supply of prescription drugs for Canadians.”

There has not been any instance of supply shortages in Canada.  Actually, the Bush Administration has looked to Canada to offset its failure to have an adequate supply of flu vaccine.   Also, licensed, registered pharmacies adhere to all provincial policies of regulatory agencies.

Hines also noted that if the Bush Administration is successful in its attack, it will further restrict the options available to America’s seniors, forcing them into the Medicare prescription drug plan supported by the President.