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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 4, 2008, at 23:07:22
Dr. Bob:
I wish you would clarify the legality of importation on non-narcotic prescription drugs, and maybe look at it as a country-by-country issue. As it stands, here in Canada:
-The policy is to permit individuals to import a 90 day supply of most NHPs,(Natural Health Products) and drugs in dosage form, for their own personal use or the use of another individual in that person's care or guardianship, based on the directions for use or reasonable intake, unless prohibited by law. Determination of a 90 day supply or single course of treatment will be made by referring to the directions for use on the imported product.
The rest of the page is pretty self-explanatory. I also understand that this is pretty much the SAME policy in the U.S. Why do you, or how have you come up with this notion that it is illegal???? This should be based on law, not on your own personal belief.
Please, this policy is in need of repair. Thanks
Jay
Posted by Dinah on August 5, 2008, at 10:30:27
In reply to Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 4, 2008, at 23:07:22
Posted by Dinah on August 5, 2008, at 10:39:20
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs » Jay_Bravest_Face, posted by Dinah on August 5, 2008, at 10:30:27
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 5, 2008, at 14:39:31
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Dinah on August 5, 2008, at 10:39:20
(Dinah...this is not directed at you..please understand..) Well, that is nice of American Drug Companies to be so 'up the up' on protecting them from drugs made in a country (Canada) that won awards in 2006-07 for providing not only some of the best medical research in the world, but some of the best pharmaceutical manufacturing standards as well. The info is available online in the MAC (McMaster) Medical Brief, March 2008) That came after American politicians attacking Canadian medications as being like those "..made in third world countries..".
Sorry..I don't mean to vent on you Dinah...it is beyond your control. But, it's perfectly legal from where the country in which I sit to do such things, but I will respect Bob's wishes. Geezz...wouldn't want Bob to risk breaking a fingernail for us or something like that! He has got to make those people at Fatherland..errr..I mean Homeland Security look great and all!
Jay
Posted by Tony P on August 5, 2008, at 19:19:27
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 5, 2008, at 14:39:31
Canada's policy on Rx & gray area drugs (e.g. Rx in Europe, not available or scheduled in Canada) is confusing and applied capriciously.
Health Canada's web statement is that their policy is primarily to protect Canadian manufacturers from commercial level imports/resale. However, they go on to describe a complicated policy on individual imports (<=90 days), which basically says if it's an Rx med either in Canada or a similar Rx is available here, you'll be "grandfathered" and allowed one import, with a polite note added suggesting you get your Dr. to apply for Special Access permission to import (both my pdoc & MD said "don't even bother trying").
I have had one package opened and passed with the aforesaid polite note (med. not available in Canada), one opened and returned to sender or destroyed, again with an explantory note (Rx drug available in Canada), and many, many packages that have simply gone missing (or were never sent by scam artists).
I phoned and talked to a Health Canada rep. She made it clear (by what she didn't say) that the policy is applied haphazardly, partly just due to volume, and that any given shipment may or may not result in an advisory note.
So the law in Canada is not at all clear, Health Canada regulations are confusing and applied inconsistently. It's probably just as well to keep the p/babble policy as it is for now. I am always willing to share info on non-controlled meds. on a personal email basis.
Posted by yxibow on August 8, 2008, at 23:45:17
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 5, 2008, at 14:39:31
> (Dinah...this is not directed at you..please understand..) Well, that is nice of American Drug Companies to be so 'up the up' on protecting them from drugs made in a country (Canada) that won awards in 2006-07 for providing not only some of the best medical research in the world, but some of the best pharmaceutical manufacturing standards as well. The info is available online in the MAC (McMaster) Medical Brief, March 2008) That came after American politicians attacking Canadian medications as being like those "..made in third world countries..".
>
> Sorry..I don't mean to vent on you Dinah...it is beyond your control. But, it's perfectly legal from where the country in which I sit to do such things, but I will respect Bob's wishes. Geezz...wouldn't want Bob to risk breaking a fingernail for us or something like that! He has got to make those people at Fatherland..errr..I mean Homeland Security look great and all!
Bush did a number on that one didn't he? Most people out of the intellectual community wouldn't realize that the only other administration that chose "Homeland" for their security was the Nazis. Anyhow.
There has been a quiet but unknown relaxation from "homeland" Customs and Border Patrol that INCLUDES the mail from Canada -- I can't find the article on it, it was about Oct 2006, that they agreed to disagree on one subject-- non narcotic, that means no Valium, non C-anything, for 90 days from reputable Canadian pharmacies, such as Jan's Drugs, etc.... would be subject still to opening boxes but would be passed on --
why Manitoba seems to be a haven for nice polite Canadians (sorry, I like Canada) to set up legitimate (there is a Canadian association) Internet pharmacies dispensing the same prescriptions (which btw if it is brand name is just a subsidiary and likely produced somewhere in Canada, otherwise the generics may come from Cipla [India], etc... The US imports generics from all sorts of places you wouldn't think including antibiotics from Saudi Arabia) that would be handed over in Canada to a pharmacy counter -- its just rewritten in Canadian (joke) by a licensed Canadian doctor, I don't know.
>
> Jay
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 9, 2008, at 11:36:42
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Tony P on August 5, 2008, at 19:19:27
I've never had any problems over many years of rx drug importation to Canada. Maybe it's the suppliers I use. The policy is clearly stated on the page I posted, and I was referred to that by Canada Customs in particular. I think the problems often are from the supplier end. They may not either be known, or not properly marked where they are from, or something. I've never had packages go missing, and only 1 was opened, but all contents still included.
Jay
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 11, 2008, at 0:24:12
In reply to Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 4, 2008, at 23:07:22
> I wish you would clarify the legality of importation on non-narcotic prescription drugs, and maybe look at it as a country-by-country issue.
US Customs and Border Protection says:
> In virtually all instances, individual citizens are prohibited from importing prescription drugs into the United States.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/restricted/medication_drugs.xml
Sorry, but the policy here about what can be posted can't be country-by-country because whatever's posted is posted for everyone.
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 11, 2008, at 0:24:17
In reply to Re: Dr BOB: Policy on importing precription drugs » Jay_Bravest_Face, posted by yxibow on August 8, 2008, at 23:45:17
> the only other administration that chose "Homeland" for their security was the Nazis.
Please be sensitive to the feelings of others (such as supporters of this administration).
But please don't take this personally, either, this doesn't mean I don't like you or think you're a bad person.
More information about posting policies and tips on alternative ways to express oneself are in the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#enforceFollow-ups regarding these issues, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 12, 2008, at 20:15:17
In reply to Re: importing precription drugs, posted by Dr. Bob on August 11, 2008, at 0:24:12
> > I wish you would clarify the legality of importation on non-narcotic prescription drugs, and maybe look at it as a country-by-country issue.
>
> US Customs and Border Protection says:
>
> > In virtually all instances, individual citizens are prohibited from importing prescription drugs into the United States.
>
> http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/restricted/medication_drugs.xml
>
> Sorry, but the policy here about what can be posted can't be country-by-country because whatever's posted is posted for everyone.
>
> BobI wasn't aware of the change in U.S. policy over the past few years, sorry about that. I thought maybe we could reach some kind of deal regarding other countries where it is legal. But, since this server is located in the U.S., I understand the difficulties. I will try to be more aware of that, thanks.
Jay
Posted by Sigismund on August 13, 2008, at 16:34:57
In reply to Re: importing precription drugs » Dr. Bob, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on August 12, 2008, at 20:15:17
>US Customs and Border Protection says:
>
> > In virtually all instances, individual citizens are prohibited from importing prescription drugs into the United StatesThat's the way rules work.
A big NO to begin with and after that they make the exemptions.
This is the end of the thread.
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