Jobs blowing out to sea?
America's multinational corporations are all in favor of international free trade, as long as the average American is not allowed to do it:
"GlaxoSmithKline, the international drug conglomerate, has issued a warning to Canadian Internet pharmacies to stop selling its drugs online without proper prescriptions." - Glaxo warns online pharmacies: No sales without legit prescriptions: Compliance concerns noted at Canadian Web sites, Carol Smith, Seattle P-I, January 17, 2003
Ostensibly, this is out of concern for customer health:
"Many people, especially seniors, have been obtaining legitimately prescribed drugs at Canadian pharmacies because of the lower cost. However, the U.S. government and drug companies have been trying to crack down on drug sales through foreign online pharmacies because of concerns that patients weren't getting legitimate prescriptions." - Glaxo warns online pharmacies: No sales without legit prescriptions: Compliance concerns noted at Canadian Web sites, Carol Smith, Seattle P-I, January 17, 2003
Consumer safety is important, but this could be addressed easily and economically with a government- or corporate-sponsored web site where internet pharmacies could be monitored. In fact, this is precisely what many consumers have already done, by creating numerous discussion groups and on-line clubs to share information about quality and service. Web sites, such as DrugBuyers.com, also provide a centralized service for keeping tabs on the good, the bad and the ugly of internet pharmacies.
But a program which only protects the interests of consumers would not serve Glaxo's real interest: protecting the American drug manufacturers' monopoly.
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