The
pfight to 'Pfix Pfizer'
Seniors protest after company cuts off supply to Canadian
pharmacies, seek to legalize reimportation
04/19/2004
NEWSDAY, NY
WASHINGTON - A few
months ago, Pfizer, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical
companies, cut off supplies to wholesalers selling its drugs
to Canadian pharmacies or Internet sites that sold to Americans,
mostly, seniors seeking cheaper drugs.
Senior groups retaliated
urging their members to boycott Pfizer's over-the-counter
products, which include Sudafed, Benadryl and Rolaids.
On Thursday, seniors will ratchet up their campaign to "Pfix
Pfizer" as dozens gather to protest outside Pfizer's headquarters
in Manhattan and at the company's annual meeting in St. Louis.
"We're trying to change
Pfizer's pricing policy," said Lani Sanjek, associate director
of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council. "They shouldn't
be hurting Americans who have turned to Canadian sources.
They shouldn't be cutting them off from access to affordable
medications."
The protests are part
of an effort by seniors and some lawmakers to legalize the
reimportation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
"Our concern is that
if [Pfizer is] successful, others will follow suit," said
Lee Graczyk, issues director for the Minnesota Senior Federation,
an advocacy group that sponsors monthly trips to Canada to
buy prescription drugs. "We believe that Americans should
be able to import not only from Canada but other European
nations. Their safety standards are equal to ours."
Groups mobilized
The Alliance for Retired
Americans, a national advocacy group of mostly retired union
workers, has also called on its 3 million members to write
Pfizer and lawmakers.
Seniors angry about
rising drug costs have vowed to make reimportation an election
issue. And Republicans and Democrats, with a nod toward seniors'
voting power, are crafting bills to allow the reimportation
of drugs from Canada.
A federal task force
also is looking into whether the Food and Drug Administration
can ensure the safety of reimporting drugs - a position the
agency has adamantly opposed.
Pfizer did not return
calls seeking comment.
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