I order generic medication that is not yet available in generic in the US. The cost difference is about $75/month. My husband was recently put on a very expensive generic medication which is 50% cheaper ordering from Canada. We both have Medicare Part D but the co-pays on both of these medications is high and we will also hit the "donut hole" making it impossible to get the medication we need. Barbara

Google vs. the Patient

posted Mon, 22 Mar 2010

Brand-name pharmaceuticals, such as Lipitor and Nexium, are often half the price in Canada than they are in the United States. Google’s new policy restricting international pharmacies from advertising to U.S consumers makes it harder for American consumers to order safe, affordable drugs from Canada.

Brand-name pharmaceuticals, such as Lipitor and Nexium, are often half the price in Canada than they are in the United States. Google’s new policy restricting international pharmacies from advertising to U.S consumers makes it harder for American consumers to order safe, affordable drugs from Canada.

Google requires that pharmacies wishing to advertise using AdWords be vetted by verifying organizations – the National Association Boards of Pharmacy VIPPS program in the United States and the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) in Canada – and only display ads within their country’s borders.

Google’s U.S. policy states:

Online pharmacies in the U.S. and U.S. territories must be accredited by the National Association Boards of Pharmacy VIPPs program and may target the U.S. and U.S. territories only.

Google’s Canadian policy states:

Online pharmacies in Canada must be accredited by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association and may target Canada only.

The Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) is an association of licensed, retail pharmacies in Canada that sells safe, brand name drugs. CIPA has supplied leading pharmaceuticals to more than one million U.S. patients each year since its founding in 2002.

CIPA is also Google’s official verifying organization for pharmacies seeking to advertise on Google’s Canadian website, www.google.ca.

CIPA accepts signed, valid prescriptions from American consumers, verifies the prescriptions with Canadian pharmacists, and send pharmaceuticals through the mail to American consumers.

Google online advertising policy restricting legitimate Canadian pharmacies from advertising to U.S. consumers is limiting consumers access to safe, affordable drugs.

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