Canada is reportedly considering whether to put a halt to the export of branded medicines, as part of a bid to protect supplies of medicines with government price caps, according to Industry reports.

According to Bloomberg, the country’s health minister, Ujjal Dosanjh, is concerned that Canada could face a drug shortage if the US sanctions a draft bill that aims to sanction bulk imports of products. Regulators are pushing through their bill, claiming it will ease the financial pressure on citizens, as medicines in Canada are as much as 70% cheaper than across the border in the USA [[10/02/05b]].

The article claims that banning the export of patented products is just one of the options Canada believes it has at its disposal, and that it is planning to conduct a legal analysis to determine the best route forward. The other options include banning bulk purchases and preventing Canadian doctors from co-signing prescriptions for US patients.