• Home
• Media centre
• News topics
• Importing medicines into the United States

Importing medicines into the United States

GSK Canada has begun to restrict shipments of prescription medicines to identified Internet pharmacies in Canada for export to the United States or elsewhere. At the same time, the company is safeguarding an adequate supply of medicines to Canadians. Critics allege that the company's motives are purely financial; this is not the case. GSK estimates cross-border Internet sales of its products currently represent less than one day of its total US sales. Canadian Internet pharmacies engaged in these practices violate US laws designed to protect patients.

GSK shares the very real concerns of American patients - particularly seniors - over access to affordable prescription medicines since medicines provide significant value to both patients and our healthcare system in terms of improving health and quality of life and lowering the overall cost of health care. Understandably, patients will look for ways to save money - particularly those who pay for medicines out of their own pocket - and cross-border Internet sales make it easier to access what patients believe are cheaper versions of their usual medicines available in Canada.

The sale of non-FDA approved medicines to US customers via the Internet, with all the attendant safety issues, is not the way to resolve the issue of affordability of medicines in the US. Passage of a Medicare prescription drug benefit is the appropriate way to guarantee affordable access to medication for American seniors. Instead of being encouraged to support illegal trade and poorly regulated and potentially unsafe business practices, American seniors should be encouraged to contact their Congressional Representatives to pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit.