Seniors Urge Passage of Prescription Drug Reimportation Legislation

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Seniors Urge Passage of Prescription Drug Reimportation Legislation

Alexandria, VA - (May 17, 2004) - With more registered lobbyists than Members of Congress, the drug industry is heavily represented on Capitol Hill [1]. But TREA Senior Citizens League Vice Chair and retiree Dottie Holmes doesn't let that stop her from advocating for the right to "reimport" less costly drugs from Canada and other nations where prices are as much as five times less than those in the U.S.[2] "The U.S. drug industry and our own Food and Drug Administration would have us believe that drugs from other countries are fakes and unsafe," says Dottie. "Baloney. What's more dangerous" she asks, " not filling a prescription because we can't afford it, or taking the very miniscule risk of getting an unsafe drug?" Ms. Holmes has been asking that question on Capitol Hill, and recently asked it at a Town Hall meeting held in Denver.

Last year, despite intense lobbying efforts by the pharmaceutical industry, the House overwhelming passed legislation that would allow American consumers access to FDA-approved prescription drugs from FDA-approved facilities abroad. That measure, introduced by Representative Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) and supported by TSCL, would require that imported prescription drugs be packaged and shipped using counterfeit-resistant packaging. The measure did not get incorporated into the Medicare prescription drug bill. Instead, the comprehensive drug bill retained a provision that would require certification by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order for reimportation to be legal. Secretaries under both President Bush and Clinton have refused to certify reimported drugs citing safety concerns.

Seniors, and drug consumers, as well as a growing number of states and local governments have put pressure on the Senate to enact legislation this year. TSCL has endorsed a bi-partisan bill, S.2328, introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND). The bill has major new provisions, including one providing for the hiring of additional inspectors and customs agents, added to assuage those who have concerns about the safety of the medicines. It would allow consumers to purchase a 90-day supply of medicines from a list of FDA-inspected and approved Canadian pharmacies listed on the FDA web site.

"This bill also has teeth," notes Holmes. "A manufacturer could not charge higher prices or restrict supplies to registered American importers. The government would have new power to punish drug companies that did so as violations of antitrust law [3]," she explains. "TSCL believes that provision is helpful, because in recent months several major pharmaceutical companies have threatened to cut off supplies to Canadian pharmacies that ship to U.S. consumers, hurting consumers in both countries," Holmes adds.

Holmes urges seniors to get involved by attending Town Hall meetings and by contacting your Senators to co-sponsor legislation that would allow the reimportation of more affordable prescription drugs. Says Holmes, "Any prescription that goes unfilled because a senior can't afford it is unsafe. Please tell your Senators that our government can make drugs more affordable and still safe by allowing us access to less costly prescriptions from Canada and other nations," she declares.

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 this issue and our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S607H, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org.

[1] Drug Industry Sees Increase in Lobbying," The Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2003.
[2] Lot Favors Importing Foreign Drugs, Alex Morrison, The Sun Herald, April 28, 2004.
[3] Group of Senators Agrees On Drug Imports, Robert Pear, The New York Times, April 22, 2004.

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

May 2004