<p>Canada announced Saturday a ban on exporting certain medicines that are or may soon be in short supply, a measure in response to a US plan to import drugs from its northern neighbor.</p>.<p>The plan promoted by outgoing US President Donald Trump aimed at allowing pharmacists and wholesalers to import certain prescription drugs in bulk from Canada takes effect on Monday.</p>.<p>The US plan is intended to lower prices for Americans, but comes at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has increased demand for some medicines.</p>.<p>Canada's ban took effect on Friday, its health ministry said, and is intended "to protect Canada's drug supply from bulk importations that could worsen drug shortages in Canada."</p>.<p><strong><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-bengal-bengaluru-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-deaths-recoveries-Covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-moderna-AstraZeneca-Oxford-921184.html#1">For latest updates on Coronavirus outbreak, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>"Certain drugs intended for the Canadian market are prohibited from being distributed for consumption outside of Canada if that sale would cause or worsen a drug shortage," the ministry said.</p>.<p>With Canada a relatively small market sourcing some 68 per cent of its drugs from abroad, it was important to avoid supply disruptions, it said.</p>.<p>Medicines tend to be cheaper in Canada than in the United States, though Canadian prices remain higher than in a number of other developed countries.</p>.<p>President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on January 20, has spoken of allowing patients to import prescription drugs from other countries as part of his plans to lower prices.</p>.<p>The price of prescription drugs is a key political issue in the United States.</p>
<p>Canada announced Saturday a ban on exporting certain medicines that are or may soon be in short supply, a measure in response to a US plan to import drugs from its northern neighbor.</p>.<p>The plan promoted by outgoing US President Donald Trump aimed at allowing pharmacists and wholesalers to import certain prescription drugs in bulk from Canada takes effect on Monday.</p>.<p>The US plan is intended to lower prices for Americans, but comes at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has increased demand for some medicines.</p>.<p>Canada's ban took effect on Friday, its health ministry said, and is intended "to protect Canada's drug supply from bulk importations that could worsen drug shortages in Canada."</p>.<p><strong><a href="www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-bengal-bengaluru-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-deaths-recoveries-Covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-moderna-AstraZeneca-Oxford-921184.html#1">For latest updates on Coronavirus outbreak, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>"Certain drugs intended for the Canadian market are prohibited from being distributed for consumption outside of Canada if that sale would cause or worsen a drug shortage," the ministry said.</p>.<p>With Canada a relatively small market sourcing some 68 per cent of its drugs from abroad, it was important to avoid supply disruptions, it said.</p>.<p>Medicines tend to be cheaper in Canada than in the United States, though Canadian prices remain higher than in a number of other developed countries.</p>.<p>President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on January 20, has spoken of allowing patients to import prescription drugs from other countries as part of his plans to lower prices.</p>.<p>The price of prescription drugs is a key political issue in the United States.</p>