Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto in association with the Center for Medications Use, Policy & Economics, University of Michigan would like to invite you to attend a one-day symposium on cross-border internet pharmacy and its public policy implications from both a Canadian and American perspective.

There is growing interest by American municipalities, health insurers and state governments in importing drugs from Canada. Are Internet pharmacies a beneficial phenomenon? Who gains and who pays? Some argue Internet pharmacies are filling in a market niche. Others see that cross-border mail order pharmacy operations have the potential to adversely impact access to
medicines, threaten the integrity and the safety of the drug distribution system, create pressure on drug prices in Canada, and discourage international investment in Canadian pharmaceutical R&D.

The purpose of this symposium is to share information, concerns, and views and foster critical debate on the myriad of issues. Public policy experts and those directly affected by internet pharmacy will meet to discuss recent research, insights, and observations on the implications of cross-border internet pharmacy for Canadian patients, providers, industry and regulators.

The symposium will take place as follows:

When: Tuesday, March 9, 2004
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Where: Westin Harbour Castle - Harbour Ballroom
Toronto, ON