Government Should Work to Ensure Safe Importation of Prescription Drugs

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Government Should Work to Ensure Safe Importation of Prescription Drugs

Alexandria, VA (March 12, 2004) -- "Seniors and taxpayers should be demanding to know why Congress is standing in the way of importing more affordable drugs," says a national seniors organization. "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is telling us that we can't import drugs from Canada because it's unsafe," says George Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League. "Yet a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) found that medications manufactured and distributed there meet or exceed FDA quality standards," Smith points out. (1)

According to the report, prepared at the request of Representative Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Canada and the U.S. regulate drugs in virtually identical ways. The report found that Canada's pharmaceutical controls mimic those in the United States, and that Canada also tracks drugs through each distribution step. (2)

"What is more dangerous? For a senior to take a very miniscule risk of importing a drug from Canada, or to take the much bigger risk of going without medication altogether because he or she can't afford it?" Smith asks.

Are people getting hurt from importing prescription drugs from Canada? Many state and local governments think some of the FDA's concerns are overstated. In 2004, more than 20 states are considering laws that would allow the importation of drugs. (3) "We are excited about the programs that are currently being implemented at the state and local level," Smith says. "We believe such pilot projects will help develop safe methods of distribution for prescriptions from Canada. The state of Minnesota recently sent inspectors to eight Canadian mail order pharmacies. Their report helped to differentiate which pharmacies were safe to do business with and which were not. (4)

"TSCL calls upon Congress to approve legislation that will allow seniors and U.S. drug consumers to safely import prescription drugs. Taxpayers and seniors deserve an explanation as to why our FDA isn't doing more, like the state of Minnesota is doing, to set up safe means of importation for the nation," Smith declares. "We urge seniors to contact your Members of Congress and ask them to support legislation that would allow the safe importation of prescription drugs from Canada."

TSCL is a national group of politically active seniors concerned about the protection of their earned Social Security, Medicare, military, and other retirement benefits. TSCL members participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns designed to ensure governmental bodies, including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, live up to their commitments. For more free information on our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S607B, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org.

(1) "The FDA Huffs, But Canadian Drugs are OK," Paul Doering, Newsday, February 20, 2004.
(2) Ibid.
(3) "Canadian Lifeline," Erin Madigan, Stateline.org, February 9, 2004.
(4) "Canadian Vendors of Drugs By Mail are Found Uneven," Otesa Middleton, The Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2004.

Distributed by The Senior Exchange, Inc.
Serving The Mature American With Timely, Low-Cost, Self-Help Information

March 2004