Medication availability varies depending on each country. For example, a medication that is available in the United States might not be available in Canada for a variety of reasons. There also appears to be a large misconception of what medications are available with or without a prescription in Canada.
One day, shortly after I had started working at a pharmacy in downtown Montreal, a client came in to the pharmacy with a prescription to be filled. The prescription was for Ambien, a popular sleeping pill in the US that was not yet available in Canada. Another problem is that the law prohibits a Canadian pharmacy from accepting a prescription from a doctor outside of the country. I politely explained this to the client.
Her response: "But a doctor told me that I can buy whatever I want in Canada!"
This response, to me, invokes the image of the magical land up north where prescription meds are sold like candies. All medications available, just ask and we'll give you anything you want! After all, didn't everyone know that morphine is used as currency in Canada?
If only it worked like that. But unfortunately, the prescription medication fairies won't be waving their wands so painkillers will magically appear.
It also didn't help that the medication the client was requesting did not actually exist in Canada at the time.
One day, shortly after I had started working at a pharmacy in downtown Montreal, a client came in to the pharmacy with a prescription to be filled. The prescription was for Ambien, a popular sleeping pill in the US that was not yet available in Canada. Another problem is that the law prohibits a Canadian pharmacy from accepting a prescription from a doctor outside of the country. I politely explained this to the client.
Her response: "But a doctor told me that I can buy whatever I want in Canada!"
This response, to me, invokes the image of the magical land up north where prescription meds are sold like candies. All medications available, just ask and we'll give you anything you want! After all, didn't everyone know that morphine is used as currency in Canada?
If only it worked like that. But unfortunately, the prescription medication fairies won't be waving their wands so painkillers will magically appear.
It also didn't help that the medication the client was requesting did not actually exist in Canada at the time.
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