According to Minit Drugs, the FDA has been ramping up interdictions of Canadian drug packages prior to the launch of the controversial Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The online pharmacy said seizure rates at major border entry points have increased nearly tenfold since December and are accompanied by a letter that it believes is intended to frighten patients.
“We have historically been prepared to absorb the cost of re-shipping seized medications as a necessary business expense. But now, the FDA is on a rampage to snuff out even legitimate online pharmacies because they pose an obvious threat to the struggling Medicare drug program,” says Barney Britton, CEO of Minit Drugs. “Clearly the FDA is acting on a political agenda.”
Minit Drugs has called on the FDA and Customs officials to verify Canadian licensure as a means of differentiating credible online pharmacies from potentially illegitimate ones.
The Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), a trade group Minit Drugs belongs to, has also commented on the matter, stating that it fears US patients could be unduly harmed as a result of the interdictions.
“It’s an issue of patient safety,” said Andy Troszok, CIPA president. “We’re not talking about Viagra and narcotics abuse. We are talking about people with breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes on established medication. Who is going to be liable for these people going off medical regimens and suffering or even dying?”
Customs has apparently denied the claims, with US Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Lynn Hollinger telling the LA Times, “It’s not a special effort other than our normal enforcement.”