October 17, 2004

WINNIPEG – Pharmacist Daren Jorgenson, widely known and respected in the industry as a pioneer and visionary, founded and owns some of the largest and most respected online pharmacy operations offering Canadian prescription drugs to Americans. Daren Jorgenson has been providing safe and affordable prescription medications to millions of un-insured and under-insured Americans for five years. His companies have developed cooperative agreements with several cities and states across the U.S. and his organization continues to set new standards in safety and service.

The upcoming Presidential elections have created a great deal of controversy regarding prescription drugs from Canada and the candidates have expressed their positions very clearly.

Senator John Kerry, who since March has been voicing support for prescription drug re-importation, has called on Bush to help states with pilot projects that would screen and approve Canadian pharmacies and ultimately provide positive recommendations to American consumers. Kerry would also change a Medicare bill that prohibits the government from negotiating lower drug prices on behalf of beneficiaries, calling it an excessive profit grab for big drug companies. (Canadian Press - July 24, 2004)

Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards’ central message is that if elected, he and Kerry would attempt to reduce the high cost of prescription drugs by encouraging the re-importation from Canada of lower-priced, U.S. made prescription drugs. He also criticized President Bush for not allowing prescription drug imports from Canada and for relaxed enforcement against misleading ads. (Star Tribune - August 15, 2004)

Contrary to the Kerry/Edwards positions, President Bush has challenged on numerous occasions and continues to challenge the safety of drugs from Canada. The White House has stated, “"The Administration strongly opposes a provision in the bill regarding the re-importation of prescription drugs. We share with the Congress concerns for senior citizens and other patients who have difficulty affording prescription drugs. However, this provision could result in unsafe, unapproved, or counterfeit drugs being imported into the United States ."” President Bush reinforced this position in the most recent Presidential debate.

In response to the rhetoric and controversy, Jorgenson says, “The truth is billions of dollars worth of medication are being dispensed each year by Canadian pharmacies for American patients, and safety has never been a concern. These are American drugs manufactured in U.S. FDA approved facilities; the same prescription drugs that are prescribed to millions of Canadians each and every day. I don’t see safety being a concern in Canada and I don’t see Canadians dying from these medications. The President has publicly and repeatedly challenged the safety of the Canadian drug supply. So I ask - where is the proof Mr. President, that drugs from Canada are not safe?”

The truth is that many drug companies are restricting the sale of their medications to pharmacies in Canada because those same drug companies see it affecting their ‘bottom line.’ If this is allowed to continue the "Canadian Pharmacy Option" will not be available to Americans in desperate need of affordable medication, and the drug companies will win once again.

Daren Jorgenson has always contended that lower priced prescription drugs from Canada is not the long term solution to the health care crisis currently facing the United States; it is rather, simply a ‘band-aid’ solution. “We do not have the supply or the professional staff required to service all Americans in need of prescription drugs in Canada . We need Americans to challenge the law makers in Washington D.C. to force drug companies to reduce prices and to implement price controls in the United States so that American’s are not paying excessively for their prescription drugs. Currently, Americans are paying more than citizens of any other industrialized nation in the world, and the big drug companies continue to report record profits year after year. We have always encouraged a grass roots movement towards lower prescription costs in the United States and we will continue to do so.”

Michael Moore, the creator of hit film Fahrenheit 9/II, announced Friday, September 15 TH 2004, while appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, that he is ready to join the battle against Pfizer and the big drug companies in the United States . His next project involves a documentary that will expose the lying and deceit that these so called ‘ethical’ drug companies are feeding the American public. Jorgenson adds, “We encourage a grass roots movement against the drug companies and we welcome Michael Moore in the fight against Big Pharma.”

Jorgenson’s newest website, www.americaputmeoutofbusiness.com is his challenge to the American public. “Don’t let drug companies like Pfizer put me out of business by continuing to cut off supply to our pharmacies if we sell their product to Americans at up to 90% savings. Instead, I want you, the American public, to put me out of business by forcing these drug companies to sell their products to American pharmacies at fair and reasonable prices ” .

Note: To schedule an interview with Daren Jorgenson please call Betty Maytwayashing at 1-204-927-3757.