Home in Florida, drugstore in Manitoba

Milan Korcok

When Blue Cross of Florida advised that it would no longer cover prescription drug costs, I did what nearly a million other Americans were already doing. I looked north. Finding an Internet pharmacy was easy, and the FDA's prohibition on this cross-border commerce had a hollow ring because many American politicians promote such sales. I recently sent my first order north to Canada, and it provided a lesson on why this practice is so common.

At my drugstore in Fort Lauderdale, the drugs my physician prescribes would cost $142.37 per month (all figures US dollars), or $427.11 for a 3-month supply (the maximum cross-border shipment available). By ordering from an online pharmacy in Manitoba, my 3-month cost dropped to $244.16, plus a $13 shipping charge — a 44% reduction. The cost of my 10-mg Lipitor alone fell from $225 to $132.

Ordering the drugs was simple. I completed a medical questionnaire, listing drugs I was taking and why, family and recent medical history, and the name, phone and fax number of my physician. I then faxed the prescriptions to Manitoba for a 3-month supply plus a 3-month refill. My doctor was not surprised — he tells his patients to do the same thing.

When I received my package 3 weeks later, I noted that a physician had approved my order and affixed his name. Two of the drugs were identical to ones I had been receiving from my drugstore and 2 were generic equivalents.

But buyer satisfaction is bad news for US sellers. John Rector of the National Community Pharmacists Association says Canadian online sales are “increasing geometrically” and are “absolutely” affecting US pharmacists.

Larry Kocot, senior vice-president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, estimates the value of this diversion to Canada at between $600 million and $1.2 billion annually. “That's bound to turn a few heads,” he said, “and it's growing by the week.” — Milan Korcok, Florida