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The association has not yet determined how much that rate has increased. But so far, he said, the seizures do not represent a serious threat.
"We are currently still chalking it up as the cost of doing business," said Troszok, who owns Extended Care Pharmacy in Calgary.
The pharmacies learn of the confiscations from customers who have received seizure notices. A customer also can use a tracking number to find out what happened.
A sudden, unannounced policy of increased enforcement -- after years of looking the other way -- would be irresponsible, Troszok said.
"It's an issue of patient safety," he said. "We're not talking about Viagra and narcotics abuse. We are talking about people with breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes and are established on medication. Who is going to be liable for these people going off medical regimens and suffering or even dying?"
Canadian pharmacies, which are able to purchase brand-name drugs at low wholesale prices negotiated with the purchasing power of the Canadian government, already had been adapting to increasing political and market pressure.
When major drug makers began curbing sales to Canadian pharmacies that shipped to the U.S., many began ordering in bulk from drug factories in Europe, India and Israel.
"The business just gets smarter and adapts," said Bill Pigden, business development manager for CanAmerica Global Health Services, a Winnipeg-based pharmacy.
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