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House Approves Foreign Drug Mail Orders
Mail orders of less costly drugs from foreign countries may soon be legal. Despite fierce opposition from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry, the House recently approved a measure that would allow Americans to order cheaper FDA-approved prescription medicines from foreign countries through the mail. The measure must still be approved in the Senate before going to President Bush for his signature. Busloads of seniors from northern states routinely cross into Canada to fill prescriptions, a practice that is allowed by the government. For example, in Canada the widely prescribed breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen, sells for one-tenth of the price it is sold for in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended a ban on all mail-order foreign prescription drugs for personal use warning that consumers cannot be assured that non-FDA-approved products are effective or safe. Non-approved drugs may not have been stored under proper conditions, may be counterfeit, contaminated, sub-potent, super-potent or a toxic mix that could cause dangerous inter-actions. Drug shipments from overseas have exploded in recent years because of increased use of the Internet. FDA rules prohibit the direct-mail importation of pharmaceuticals by anyone other than drug manufacturers or distributors, although the agency has the authority to grant exceptions to individuals. A second, more far-reaching measure that would have allowed pharmacists and wholesalers to buy FDA approved drugs with lower prices in countries like Canada and resell them at a discount in the United States did not win approval. That measure, sponsored by Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is similar to one that was approved last year. The earlier legislation was so riddled with loopholes inserted at the last-minute at the behest of the pharmaceutical industry, it was deemed virtually unworkable. About 89% of TSCL members support legislation that allows the re-importation of FDA-approved drugs from foreign countries. Sources: "House Backs Limited Drug Import Plan," Adam Entous, Reuters, July 11, 2001. "Regulators Will Seek to Enlist Customs In Effort to Halt Foreign Drug Mailings," Sarah Lueck, The Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2001. To find more articles about Prescriptions Drugs, click here www.tscl.org/newcontent/100150.asp to read "Congress OK’s Lower-Cost Prescription Drug Imports," or click here www.tscl.org/newcontent/100544.asp This article first appeared in Volume 6, Issue 9 of `The Social Security and Medicare Advisor` newsletter (September 2001). To receive future editions of `The Advisor` in its special, free e-mail version, please click here. | ||||||||
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