Canada bans mass exports of prescription drugs in response to US import plan amid pandemic

In order to prevent  short of certain prescription drugs in Cana, Trudeau government has anunced a ban on  export of drugs in response to United States' plan to import medicines from country.  federal government declared ban on Saturday, vember 28, stating that certain drugs are prohibited from being distributed for consumption outside of Cana if that sale would cause or worsen a drug short.

RE | Trudeau’s office releases details of phone call he 'was going to make' to Oppn leer

Cana's Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement that companies will w also be required to provide information to assess existing or potential shorts when requested, sometimes within 24 hours if re is a serious or imminent health risk to Canians. country sources 68 percent of its drugs from overseas and refore it was important to avoid any disruptions to supplies, statement furr said.

decision comes in response to a US plan that would allow for drugs to be imported from Cana to make m cheaper for Americans. Although prescription drug prices in Cana are higher than in some nations, y are cheaper than in US. A number of Cana's drug suppliers h cautioned federal government that Trump's plan would cause shorts of medicines in country and amid pandemic, re is alrey an increased demand for some medicines. 

RE | Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro alleges fraud in US election following Trump's claims

Trump signs executive orders for drug importation

In July, Trump ministration h signed an executive order allowing for legal importation of cheaper drugs from Cana. Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a month later said he was happy to help or nations with ir supplies if possible however his priority was protecting needs of Canians.

Meanwhile, drugmakers have faced intense criticism from US politicians including Trump as well as insurance companies and patients' groups over high cost of new medicines and price hikes in some older generic drugs.

RE | Ex-Trump campaign aide sues over Russia probe surveillance

Cana's COVID-19 vaccine plan

On vember 27, Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he expects more than half of country’s population to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by next September. Last week, 48-year-old leer attracted flak after he claimed that Canians might t be first ones to receive vaccine as it does t have a vaccine production facility. 

Although he did t specify a particular month, Canian prime minister asserted that he expects a COVID-19 vaccine to arrive early in 2021. Speaking at a press briefing on COVID-19 and vaccine rollout, Trudeau said that although pandemic was a race to get to starting line first, it doesn’t get over until everyone reaches finish line.

RE | Cana PM Trudeau believes most of citizens will receive COVID vaccines by next Sept