Thalidomide sourcing from offshore
Owing to costs, Canadian myeloma patients are acquiring lower-cost Thalidomide from countries like Mexico, Brazil and India.
Canadians buy the drug over the Internet, in person in Mexico, or friends and relatives bring it back.
The cost is a fraction of that in Canada, athough self-importing Thalidomide is illegal in Canada.
Thalidomide costs in Canada can reach $40,000/year. Provincial drug plans and private insurers do not usually reimburse the expense.
Apparently Health Canada may permit a patient to bring up to a 90-day supply of Thalidomide into Canada.
Although Revlimid and Velcade are approved by Health Canada most provinces refuse to fund them.
A Mexican company, Laboritorios Serral, produces Thalidomide under the brand name Talizer. Apparently the drug can be imported or family members can pick up the drug from an authorized pharmacy in Mexico, if they have the patient's prescription and identification.
However, Canadian doctors are concerned about taking drugs without Health Canada oversight.
Canadians buy the drug over the Internet, in person in Mexico, or friends and relatives bring it back.
The cost is a fraction of that in Canada, athough self-importing Thalidomide is illegal in Canada.
Thalidomide costs in Canada can reach $40,000/year. Provincial drug plans and private insurers do not usually reimburse the expense.
Apparently Health Canada may permit a patient to bring up to a 90-day supply of Thalidomide into Canada.
Although Revlimid and Velcade are approved by Health Canada most provinces refuse to fund them.
A Mexican company, Laboritorios Serral, produces Thalidomide under the brand name Talizer. Apparently the drug can be imported or family members can pick up the drug from an authorized pharmacy in Mexico, if they have the patient's prescription and identification.
However, Canadian doctors are concerned about taking drugs without Health Canada oversight.
posted by gwg at 8:26 AM
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