Seattle to study importation of medicine from Canada

[icymist]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001913590_drug27m.html


Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Seattle to study importation of medicine from Canada

By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously yesterday to study a program that would reimburse employees for importing prescription drugs from Canada.
Councilman Tom Rasmussen, who pushed the proposal along with Mayor Greg Nickels, said it could save the city between $250,000 and $1 million a year because many drugs are 30 to 80 percent cheaper in Canada. The city and its employees spent $9 million last year on prescription medications.

The plan would be voluntary and is based on one started last year in Springfield, Mass.

Importing medicine from Canada is illegal, but U.S. citizens have been doing it for years and Springfield has not been prosecuted for its plan.

(more)

[GainesT1958]

1. I sure hope they go through with it...

Maybe not as much as folks in Vancouver hope they do, but I sure hope they do!:eyes:

Any municipality, county or state that spits in the eye of Dub & Co. on this "issue", I'll be proud of them for doing so!:D

B-)

[loftycity]

2. Why do they have to Study it? It's right there in their faces.

Just stupid. Gee, I can purchase medicine for less and save suffering and lives now. Ahhh but wait, we will study this for years.

[SoCalDem]

3. Border states should investigate "importing" medical CARE

I wonder what would happen if Canada "sold" medical services to Washington, Idaho, Montana,etc. They could set up clinics at the borders and let the US citizens "use" their clinics free of charge. The invididual states would contract (and pay) Canada a fair price..
Perhaps they could even set up "satellite facilities" all over the state..(Canadian outsourcing in action :)..)

Would people go?? Would Repubes go to the "free" doctors, or would they gallantly whip out their wallets to stay with the "Murikan" facilities and insurance companies who are fleecing them??

Canadian care is provided through taxation, but I contend that there would have to be a way to figure out what it would cost a state to sign up with them.. The money saved from medicaid and local programs would probably pay for it..

[loftycity]

4. That is a great idea.....

Show the US how it works within in the border states. It would give us an alternative and the Canadians more purchasing power.
Nafta at work.