Characteristics Of Canadian Pharmacies

The issue of purchasing prescription drugs from Canada is big in the U.S. at this moment. This is because in the U.S. prescription drug prices have skyrocketed making it difficult for those who have limited or fixed incomes to buy their much needed medications. Americans pay more for their drugs than anyone in the world.

In contrast, across the border in Canada, most prescription drugs are available at much cheaper prices. Canadians save forty to ninety percent off the cost of their prescription drugs.

However at the moment due to FDA regulations in place all shipments of prescription drugs imported from a Canadian pharmacy by a U.S. consumer will violate U.S. law. But under the “personal use” exemption, Americans with valid prescriptions may order, at any one time up to a 90-day supply of their prescribed medications from Canada.

The question now arises are U.S. pharmacies any better than Canadian pharmacies, and if not, what makes Canadian pharmacies better.

• The first most important characteristic of Canadian pharmacies is that almost all prescriptions drugs sold are cheaper than U.S. prescription drugs. Prices in Canadian pharmacies can differ by US$ 100 or more. This is because the Canadian dollar is cheaper than the U.S. dollar, and secondly because the Canadian government limits how much pharmaceutical manufacturers can charge for brand-name drugs when they are approved and restricts subsequent price increases. In Canada generic brands become available 5 years earlier, this is another reason why Canadian drugs are cheaper.
• Another characteristic of Canadian pharmacies is that they are all licensed by the province where they are located, and utilize provincially licensed pharmacists in the dispensation of prescription drugs. All Canadian pharmacies are certified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, and by NAPRA, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities in Canada.
• Canadian pharmacies only dispense maintenance medications. They do not dispense any controlled or narcotic substances, as it is illegal to ship them.
• Also all pharmacies in Canada require either an original prescription from a U.S. physician or confirmation from the physician that a faxed copy is consistent with the original, before they will dispense any medication. Refills however may be filled by telephone, mail or online. To know if a Canadian pharmacy is safe and reliable, check for a ‘Squaretrade’ company logo. The squaretrade licensed pharmacy program makes it easier to determine which pharmacies are genuine. The Squaretrade Company certifies whether or not an internet pharmacy has met the standards of a "brick and mortar" pharmacy. Only pharmacies that meet this standard receive the ‘Squaretrade’ seal of approval.

Like the U.S., Canada has exceptionally high standards for pharmaceuticals and has in place a rigorous approval system and strict manufacturing requirements. Most drugs sold in Canada are exactly the same as those sold in the United States.

However, some drugs are manufactured in Canada and have a Canadian version, for example, in Canada, the U.S. drug “Prilosec” is called “Losec” and is a pill rather than a capsule, even though it is in fact the same drug and is made by the same manufacturer.