E-DRUG: parallel re-importation of drugs into USA
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[from the BMJ, copied as fair use.
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7305/130
NN]
BMJ 2001;323:130 (21July)
News
Bill will give Americans right to buy cheaper drugs
ScottGottlieb, New York
The US House of Representatives voted to make it easier for
individuals to import low cost prescription drugs from foreign
countries for their own use, after rejecting a more sweeping
proposal to allow bulk imports by drug wholesalers and
pharmacies.
Both proposals reflected growing concern about high drug costs
among US consumers. Similar legislation passed the US House
and Senate last year, but it included an escape clause that was
invoked by both the Clinton and Bush administrations, which said
that the import plan would not be safe. This clause effectively
allowed both presidents to quash previous efforts at putting these
rules into place.
If the current bill is signed into law by the president, the White
House will not be able to circumvent the popular measure - known
as reimportation. Increasingly, Americans are looking to foreign
countries as a source of prescription drugs, and the government
contends that most such imports are illegal. Drug prices are often
lower outside the United States, partly because other countries
control prices differently.
Thousands of Americans from California and Arizona now travel to
Mexico for medicine, while residents of some northern border
states go to Canada. If the proposal becomes law, they could
instead legally use the internet, the post, or a fax machine to order
drugs from foreign pharmacies - provided that the drugs are approved by
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Drug companies mobilised lobbyists to oppose the legislation,
saying that it would allow the sale of adulterated and counterfeit
drugs, which pose huge risks to consumers. Alan Holmer,
president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America, said that the amendment would "open up the possibility
for individuals to bring into the country medicines that may not be
as safe or effective as they appear."
"Because the danger still exists, we will continue to oppose the
personal use exemption in the Senate," he said.
President Bush endorsed easing the rules on drug imports in the
campaign last year. But this week the White House and the FDA
opposed the measures, saying they could "result in unsafe,
unapproved or counterfeit drugs being imported into the United
States". Many doubt that the White House would try to block the
measure once it makes it to the president's desk for his signature.
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