California Seniors’ Advocacy Group hails decision to deter prescription seizures as indication of safety, efficacy for medicines from Canadian pharmacies

Sacramento, California, October 7, 2006—The executive director of one of America’s leading seniors’ advocacy organizations has hailed the decision of the Department of Homeland Security to cease seizures of legally prescribed prescriptions from licensed pharmacies as a major victory for ‘common sense’ and the well-being of America’s seniors.

Gary Passmore, executive director of the Congress of California Seniors (CCS) also notes that Homeland Security has said it will continue random selection of prescriptions for screening and testing to deter counterfeit medicines or those without the necessary and proper amounts of ingredients.

“This decision is a validation that many Americans have found access to safe, affordable prescriptions from reputable pharmacies in Canada and elsewhere,” Passmore says. He notes that these pharmacies must meet standards that are equal to or exceed those for U.S. pharmacies. “We welcome actions by the government to determine the safety of medicine and are happy to see the end of tactics designed simply to frighten people,” Passmore added.

Passmore said that to further ensure the safety and efficacy of prescriptions ordered via the Internet all mail order pharmacies, including those located in the U.S., should be subject to the same random test procedures as those from outside the U.S.

He also called upon Congressional policy-makers to seek clarification from Homeland Security on three points:
1. What will determine what shipments are selected for testing?
2. What types of tests will be conducted?
3. How will the results of the tests be made available to the American public?

Passmore says that CCS supports the concept of making safe, affordable prescriptions from both within and outside the U.S. available to not only seniors, but to all Americans.

“That is why we have launched www.SafeSourceRx.com , an innovative outreach for those seeking relief from high prices for prescription medicines,” Passmore says. “Endorsed by CCS, www.SafeSourceRx.com offers safe, affordable prescriptions via mail order with one of Canada’s leading pharmacies with no requirements for membership in an organization, no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles.