Schwitzer health news blog

We'll take your bad beef if you keep your lower cost drugs

In a new twist on the old "guns and butter" policy, the U.S. now appears on the verge of a "bad beef and higher priced drugs" policy.

Two news stories this past week beg readers to connect the dots.

One predicted that Canada may shut off Internet and mail-order sales of lower-cost prescription drugs to Americans. A Canadian pharmacy organization blames pressure by the Bush administration on the Canadian prime minister. Another Canadian pharmacy organization spokesman said he suspects the Canadian government has “quietly won U.S. trade concessions on Canadian beef and lumber in exchange for shutting down the mail-order drug industry.” (Star Tribune 12/31/04)

A headline in the same paper, same day, different section: “Canadian beef still welcome, U.S. says.”

Imports of beef stopped 19 months ago because of mad cow disease fears. This week’s U.S. announcement to stand by a decision to renew Canadian beef imports in March comes at the same time that Canada admitted it may have another case of mad cow disease.

So the U.S. may ban import of lower-cost Canadian drugs while renewing imports of Canadian beef despite continued health concerns.

Guns and butter.

Bad beef and higher-priced drugs.

What a fun year this will be to continue to track U.S. health care policy.