Tell us: What do you think of Americans coming to Canada to buy insulin?

Elisabetta Bianchini
A girl holds a sign that reads "Insulin Saves My Life" while Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about the cost of insulin in the USA versus Canada as he joins a group of people with diabetes on a trip to Canada for affordable Insulin on July 28, 2019 in Windsor, Canada. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
A girl holds a sign that reads "Insulin Saves My Life" while Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about the cost of insulin in the USA versus Canada as he joins a group of people with diabetes on a trip to Canada for affordable Insulin on July 28, 2019 in Windsor, Canada. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined a group of Americans on a bus ride from Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ont., on Sunday to purchase insulin at a Canadian pharmacy.

“Americans are paying $300 for insulin. In Canada they can purchase it for $30,”
Sanders said in a tweet that day. “We are going to end pharma’s greed.”

For individuals with type 1 diabetes, insulin is required to manage blood sugar. Their pancreas does not produce insulin, which is a hormone that helps the body control the level of glucose in the blood.

"It is an embarrassment for those of us who are Americans," Sanders told reporters on Sunday. "We love our Canadian neighbours and we thank them so much, but we shouldn't have to come to Canada."

There have been several reports of Americans with type 1 diabetes dying because they were rationing insulin due to the high price tag that they were struggling to pay.

But the rise of Americans coming to Canada has also raised concerns about potential shortages Canadians would have to manage.

A collection of 15 groups representing health care professionals, hospitals and patients wrote a letter to Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor to warn of the potential risk of shortages at pharmacies.

“The Canadian medicine supply is not sufficient to support both Canadian and U.S. consumers,” the letter states. “The supply simply does not, and will not, exist within Canada to meet such demands.”

The group added that Canada’s health care system is set to serve Canadians and are “not equipped to support to the needs of a country 10 times its size.”

Canadians and Americans took to social media to discuss the recent trip to buy insulin in Windsor:

So what do you think about Americans coming to Canada to buy insulin? Vote in the poll above and leave your comments below.