The federal government could ensure the safety of prescription drugs imported to the United States from other nations by "inspecting foreign production plans, licensing wholesale importers and tracking shipments from factory to pharmacy," consumer advocates testified on Friday at the first of six "listening sessions" held by the Task Force on Drug Importation as part of a study on the safety of the practice, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 3/20). The study is required by the new Medicare law. The task force, the members of which HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced last week, can consult with other federal officials and will hold the listening sessions to discuss the issue of reimportation with consumer advocates, health care purchasers, providers, health care industry representatives, international stakeholders and the public (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/17). The Bush administration has "strenuously opposed drug imports, saying they pose an unacceptable risk to consumers," the New York Times reports (New York Times, 3/20).
Testimony
At the session on Friday, Gail Shearer, director
of health policy analysis for Consumers Union, said, "There is a growing recognition
that not being able to afford needed prescription drugs is a threat to the
health of the American people. There are tens of thousands of deaths a
year because people are not getting the needed drugs" (Kemper, Los
Angeles Times, 3/20). She added, "It's a reality now, because the
United States government has failed to develop a model that assures drugs
are affordable to Americans" (Sherman, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/20). Peter
Wyckoff, executive director of the Minnesota Senior Federation, which since 1995 has
organized trips for state residents to purchase prescription drugs from
Canada, said, "The issue is not about drug importation, it is not about
prescription drug safety. The issue is about the cost of prescription
drugs for all Americans" (Los Angeles Times, 3/20). David
Certner, director of federal affairs for AARP, added, "Individuals are already doing this on
their own. It would be far better to establish a safe regime for imports."
He said that the FDA Web
site should list "approved pharmacies" that could supply U.S. residents
with safe prescription drugs from other nations (New York
Times, 3/20). Surgeon General Richard Carmona, chair of the task
force, said, "We start with many more questions than answers. We start
with many more beliefs about what is possible than facts"
(AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/20).