Drug shortages feared in Canada as U.S. eyes easing restrictions on imports

OTTAWA • Federal officials say Ottawa was not consulted in advance about the details of a Trump administration proposal announced Wednesday aimed at allowing American patients and consumers to legally import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.

The office of Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor says while it remains in regular contact with counterparts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about their “mutual interest” in fostering lower drug prices, details of the surprise announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar were not discussed beforehand.

“While we’re aware of ongoing state-led initiatives to import Canadian drugs, we weren’t consulted on specifics,” the office said in a statement.

Azar, a former drug industry executive, said U.S. patients will be able to import medications with oversight from the Food and Drug Administration under a scheme that prompted many defenders of Canada’s drug supply to sound the alarm.

The plan amounts to nothing short of a “clear and present danger” to the health and well-being of Canadians who need prescription medications, said John Adams, the volunteer chairman of the Best Medicines Coalition, a non-profit organization representing 28 national patient organizations.

“This is really serious,” said Adams, who warned that the existing supply of drugs in Canada is not always sufficient to meet the current needs of Canadians, let alone a sudden surge in demand from south of the border.

The federal government may not be suitably equipped to protect the drug supply, he added, suggesting Parliament be recalled before the October election in order to establish a mechanism to ensure Canadians have ample access to the medications they need.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association issued its own warning as it called on the federal government to oppose the scheme and develop a response, including restrictions on drug exports.

The Canadian medicine supply is not equipped to support both Canadian and U.S. consumers, it said, warning of worsening drug shortages in Canada and disrupted access to medications.