Reportedly, $1 million is being added to the already heavily funded drug lobby against the Canadian health care system.

Canada’s Internet pharmacy industry, which Americans have been using to buy prescription drugs at significantly lower prices than are available in the United States, is also being targeted by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

PhRMA, which claims the online pharmacies put patients at risk, added another $450,000 to their budget specifically to attack the legitimacy of such pharmacies.

According to PhRMA, Canadian price controls "take away innovation." They state that eliminating subsidies would increase the amount of drug development done in Canada and give Canadians access to more drugs.

Canadian critics, on the other hand, say that taking away price controls would allow drug prices to rise uncontrollably, leaving many Canadians unable to afford prescription drugs--a scenario that is common in the United States.

Others say that PhRMA is attacking the Canadian drug industry simply because their lower prices make drug companies in America look bad.

Prescription drugs are a huge business. Each year, more than $12 billion is spent on prescription drugs in Canada and 65 percent to 70 percent of this amount is spend on brand name products. In the United States, the amount spent on drugs is 10 times that amount.

Additionally, the industry is battling over patent regulations with generic drug makers. The prescription industry says that companies must be protected and allowed to regain the money it cost to develop and improve the effectiveness of drugs.

Edmonton Journal June 9, 2003

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Most of you understand and know that I rarely recommend drugs. However, occasionally drugs are necessary and when that is the case it would seem reasonable to avoid further rewarding the drug companies by paying premium prices. You can save up to 50 percent off the cost of drugs by purchasing them through foreign pharmacies like the ones in Canada. You can search for these pharmacies using the Internet. One typical site that I came across is SaveOnCanadianMeds.com. There are measures you can take to promote your health and decrease your chances of needing prescription drugs in the first place. Although they are simple measures, they are extremely powerful and include optimizing your diet, implementing an exercise program, and addressing emotional stress. You can find out more about how to implement these measures in your daily life in my new book, The No-Grain Diet. By incorporating these changes into your life, you will take control of your health and no longer have to rely on drugs to cover up your symptoms. This is a very empowering step that can extend beyond your health and give you the strength to take control of other aspects of your life as well. Related Articles: How to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs How To Purchase Drugs at 50% Off How to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs Drug Industry Lobbyists Spending More to Influence Congress