Title
Urging the GlaxoSmithKline Corporation to resume prescription drug deliveries to Canadian-based mail-order pharmacies.
Body
WHEREAS, Americans are forced to pay prescription drug prices which far exceed those in any other nations; and
WHEREAS, These extraordinarily high prices have a severe economic impact on Philadelphians especially our senior citizens, who are least able to afford the costs of essential & life-saving medications; and
WHEREAS, Canadian pharmacies are a critical resource for Philadelphians to purchase prescription drugs who can pay up to 80 percent less than in comparable pharmacies within the United States. As an illustration, consumers can save 93% from Canadian pharmacies on the cost of Tamoxifin, an effective breast cancer drug; and
WHEREAS, Canada has established and instituted price control measures to ensure prescription drugs are affordable to those in need; and
WHEREAS, One of the major suppliers to Canadian-based mail-order pharmacies is the British GlaxoSmithKline Corporation, the world's second largest drug manufacturer, whose total annual sales for the most recently measured 12-month period were $29.5 billion; and
WHEREAS, On January 21, 2003, GlaxoSmithKline suspended all shipments of prescription drugs to these Canadian pharmacies, including popular medications such as the anti-depressant Paxil and the allergy drug Flonase; and
WHEREAS, This suspension will severely affect the medical needs of many Philadelphians including an estimated 9000 Philadelphia Senior Citizens that order prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies is according to the International Association of Canadian Pharmacists; and
WHEREAS, GlaxoSmithKline is also the manufacturer of many popular nonprescription consumer products, including Tumas antacid, Contac cold medicine, Sominex sleep aid, Citrucel fiber supplement, and Aquafresh toothpaste; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to get the GlaxoSmithKline corporation to reconsider its su...
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