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January 15, 2004Service will offer Canadian drugsOtsego officials surprised about club's openingByRecord-Eagle staff writer GAYLORD - A prescription drug service offering low-cost Canadian pharmaceuticals will open Tuesday in Gaylord, a move that caught local senior citizen groups and others by surprise. The American Drug Club in Gaylord said customers can expect 30 to 80 percent reductions in prescription drug costs. It's the first of its kind in northern Michigan, though a dozen similar clubs have popped up across the state in recent months. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said importing Canadian drugs violates federal law and drugs sold through such storefronts can be "risky." Cindi Williams, general manager of the new Gaylord club, said the business provides quality drugs at prices drastically discounted from U.S. filled prescriptions. "They are the exact same, in manufactured-sealed boxes," Williams said. "It is a five-star pharmacy ... and not everyone is going to like it. They would like you to pay up the wazoo, but (for some) this is a matter of, 'Do I pay rent or do I buy the medication that I need.' " Otsego County officials were surprised the club was opening a Gaylord location. "I haven't researched the laws in that area. I will research the laws in that area (now), and am not aware of the business," Prosecutor Kevin Hesselink said. Officials with the Otsego County Commission on Aging, which helps senior citizens obtain affordable drugs, also were unaware of the business. And Donna Fopma, owner of Nelson's Drug Store in downtown Gaylord, said she's familiar with the club concept but had no idea it was coming to her town. "I think it is an accident waiting to happen," she said. "There isn't going to be any pharmacist there, no customer service - it breaks down the triad between the pharmacist, the doctor and the patient." Fopma said meeting with a pharmacist is important because mistakes are often averted during those discussions with the patient. The Gaylord storefront will be staffed by Williams and another employee who quote drug prices for the customer. Customers place orders through the Internet or in person. No drugs are housed at the Gaylord store, which functions as an independent contractor for the American Drug Club in Winnipeg. Orders are sent to a Winnipeg pharmacy where pharmacists work with the customer's doctor to fill prescriptions. The drugs are then delivered to the customer's home in two to four weeks, Williams said. Most of the club's customers have either limited prescription drug coverage or no coverage at all. There is no membership fee. The Gaylord store makes money by receiving a fee from the Canadian pharmacy. Williams, whose sister and brother-in-law own the store, said she expects business to boom in Gaylord. She'll begin to look for a suitable Traverse City location in the next month. "People are very excited that we are coming into Gaylord," she said. "They understand how expensive it is to pay for prescription drug coverage." But there are still questions swirling about how the club works and if it's legal. Larry Wagenknecht, of Lansing-based Michigan Pharmacists Association, believes the club's practices violate state and federal laws. Wagenknecht said the FDA hasn't enforced laws that forbid drug imports, mainly because of politics. "No one wants to be the one that tells Mrs. Senior Citizen that she can't get her cheap drugs from Canada," he said. Williams said no agencies, state or federal, are pursuing legal action against those who buy drugs from Canada. She says many people can't afford to fill prescriptions in the U.S., forcing them to choose between food and medicine.
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