Canadian drugs program online and in business

After a hard-fought political battle lasting more than a year, Nevada's Canadian drug import program is online and in business.

The key to the program is the Web site at the governor's Office of Consumer Health Assistance. There, people looking for less pricey sources of prescription drugs can find a list of four Canadian pharmacies which have been investigated and approved by the Nevada Board of Pharmacy as safe suppliers of pharmaceuticals.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who sponsored the legislation creating the program, said seniors and others can get the prescription medicines they need for one-third to half-off the price those same medicines cost them in the United States.

She said throughout the fight to get the program approved and in operation this was a measure to help Nevadans in need of safe but affordable medication until the federal government and Congress fix the problem that allows pharmaceutical companies to overcharge American residents.

The program was opposed by Attorney General George Chanos, who said the legislation was flawed and couldn't be implemented.

Buckley termed his logic absurd, and convinced the pharmacy board to approve the plan over Chanos' objections.

"This is a victory for Nevadans who can't afford to wait for the federal government to fix our broken health-care system," she said. "The Web site provides Nevadans with a safe alternative to the rising drug costs in the United States and the terribly inadequate Medicare drug plan."

She said she introduced the legislation because too many Nevadans were already buying drugs through the Internet without any assurances their sources were legitimate and safe suppliers of prescription medications.

"It's too bad Nevadans have to look outside of the country for affordable prescription drugs, but at least they now know which Web sites to trust," she said.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.

On the Net

Nevada Web site for prescription drug orders from Canada

http://govcha.state.nv.us/CP-index.htm

Consumers with questions about the Web site can call the Office of Consumer Health Assistance at 1-888-333-1597.