The Canadian Ministry of Health stated today, Monday, that the Canadian government believes that wholesale importation will not provide an effective solution to the problem of high drug prices in the United States after the US Food and Drug Administration allowed Florida to import cheaper drugs from Canada.

This is because drug costs in the United States are higher than they are in Canada and other countries where government-run healthcare systems negotiate individual drug prices.

Florida received on Friday a permit from the Food and Drug Administration to import prescription drugs directly from Canada, being the first state to obtain such approval for a strategy that could reduce drug prices.

The Canadian Ministry of Health said in a statement that the Canadian government is taking all necessary measures to protect drug supplies and ensure Canadians have access to prescribed medications they need and was clear in its position: wholesale importation will not provide an effective solution to the problem of high drug prices in Canada. The United States.

The statement referred to regulations that prohibit the sale of some drugs intended for the Canadian market for consumption outside Canada if such sale could cause drug shortages in Canada.

The statement added, "The ministry will not hesitate to take immediate action to address non-compliance, starting with requesting a plan for corrective measures, issuing a public warning or other forms of communication, to taking action regarding the licenses of regulated parties that violate the export ban if justified."

In the past, the Canadian government opposed any American plans to purchase prescription drugs, citing threats to the country's drug supplies or increased costs to its citizens.

For many years, advocates of the import policy in the United States have said that purchasing drugs from other places can help reduce costs in the US, where more than half of Americans have private health plan coverage.

The agency said Florida still needs to provide drug-specific information for review and approval by the Food and Drug Administration, along with evidence that the drugs it seeks to import have been tested to comply with FDA standards.