JGL53

If we can import bananas and canned roast beef from countries in South America with no big health problems, then I think importing drugs from Canada should be ok.

Loren Pechtel

I'm not saying the problem is big enough to prohibit reimportation. I'm just saying it is a factor.

Enai

As I posted in this thread , there is considerable risk in reimporting drugs. I quote myself:

It isn't funny. As I said, people have died or suffered severe side effects, because in some charges of meds the amount of active ingredients fluctuated wildly. I think I could hunt down an article in a rather large german weekly paper (Der Spiegel, if I remember correctly), but it would be in german, of course. If you'd like to see it, PM me.

Enai

edited to add: The article is here . It is in german. It appeared in issue 30/2003 of the magazine Der Spiegel, which most likely is also available in the US. With any luck, there may be an english translation.

John Hancock

An acceptable risk.

John Hancock
__________________
"Fascism,should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power." Mussolini

Enai

So, is that all you can say? Why do you think the risk is acceptable? How high should the risk of getting forged/spoiled medicine (and dying or suffering severe side-effects) get before you think it's time to take some action? It's not like that drugs are cheaper for the consumer, mind you... They're just cheaper for the middlemen who distribute to the pharmacies.

Enai

enfant terrible

This is not such a simple issue. There is a valid argument that this can hurt consumers in the long run, by undermining R&D incentives for the pharmaceutical industry.

To start solving the problem of expensive drugs, it is first necessary to identify it. The real problem is that the US patent laws are stricter than international ones, which enables the rest of the world to free-ride on American R&D, while the companies finance it by extracting rents in the US market.

openeyes

I'm a pharmacist also. I think if this bill is approved, purchasers of drugs for pharmacies will have to be more careful making sure the chain of distribution is legitimate. I think that's ok if they are willing to do the work. I know my brother-in-law who is also a pharmacist and part owner of a handful of pharmacies in central Minnesota would like to have a chance of access to less expensive drugs, especially since we border Canada.

If this bill does pass, it'll be interesting to see what the pharmaceutical manufacturers do. I'm sure they try to think of some way to counteract it.

sakrilege

Random thoughts/questions...

There are many unregulated drugs already imported into the USA, that is herbal medicine, where the purity is unknown and even if the product is pure the actual medicine is questionable as being safe.

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Is there a better model for developing drugs than the free market? Aren't there a collection of drugs considered orphans and not produced because there isn't enough market to be profitable yet these drugs would save lives?

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I heard on NPR yesterday, hope I recall the facts correctly, the import bill would require drugs to be processed at FDA approved plants. If a manufacturer has the label applied to the pill bottle at a non FDA approved plant, then it would not qualify for importing.

Koiyotnik

As a citizen of a potentially-benefitting country from this bill, I'm very interested in seeing where this goes. I fear that it may not go far, but I'm not too entrenched with the system to make an accurate guess.

I couldn't help but notice the grouping of 'Canada, France and Germany' in Pence's statement. I can only wonder if Canada is going to be villified just like France was?

John Hancock

Nope I'd add I just washed down more Xanax with beer. I don't worry about a thing - I know nothings gonna be all right.

John Hancock
__________________
"Fascism,should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power." Mussolini

PS. I'm just pulling on your coat.