In the Jan. 18 column, Gov. John Hoeven emphasizes the progress that has been made regarding his priorities toward advancing economic development in the state by building new businesses and adding new and higher paying jobs for North Dakotans. He says we need to continue to do all we can to keep our young people in North Dakota so that we can build a bright and prosperous future for our children. I wholeheartedly agree but, unfortunately, this philosophy is not being applied to all businesses in the state, particularly as it relates to pharmacy.
Just two days before his letter to the editor, The Forum ran a front page story on how Hoeven was developing plans to assist North Dakotans to purchase their prescription drugs from Canadian mail order pharmacies rather than keeping this business in North Dakota where it belongs.
Why is the governor not willing to promote North Dakota pharmacy businesses? Why is he advocating, promoting, and even actively assisting our state and its citizens to buy from Canadian pharmacies over North Dakota pharmacies (essentially taking vital business away from pharmacists and pharmacies in our state which will likely force many North Dakota pharmacies to close)?
Why would he want to create a pharmacy business environment in North Dakota that encourages practicing pharmacists to leave the state and that also discourages pharmacy graduates to stay in North Dakota? Why is he not focusing his efforts in developing a plan to work with pharmacy businesses in the state to get cheaper drug prices for our pharmacists so that we can keep this business in North Dakota ?
Based on Hoeven's business model for pharmacy, it doesn't sound like there will be a very bright future in North Dakota for our young pharmacy graduates. The whole philosophy of importing drugs from Canada is not exactly what I call in line with the theme of "Saving North Dakota."
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Charles D. Peterson
Fargo
