Senators Say It’s Time To Import Rx Drugs
By George Anderson
A General Accounting Office (GAO) report (http://www.gao.gov/) provides the evidence that it’s time to lift the ban on importing prescription medicines from Canada, say key Republican and Democratic senators.
HealthDayNews reported all 18 online Canadian pharmacies required a prescription before sending medications. Ironically, only five of 29 online pharmacies in the U.S. required a prescription.
The Food and Drug Administration has sought to halt online sales of prescription medicines, primarily from Canada, over product safety and other concerns.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said the study confirms, “Canadian pharmacies are a safe source of high-quality prescription drugs.”
Sen. Kennedy, who has co-sponsored a bill with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to allow for the legal importation of prescription medicines from Canada said, “It’s high time for the congressional leaders and President Bush to pass our bipartisan drug importation bill, to allow all American consumers to order cheaper prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies.”
Moderator’s Comment: In light of the GAO study and other evidence, isn’t it time that retail pharmacists in the U.S.
began to lobby Congress and the Bush Administration to legalize the import of prescription medicines from Canada?
The GAO study did not give a blanket endorsement on prescription drug importation noting some hurdles such as labeling that need to be addressed. That said,
it’s time for U.S. retail pharmacists to find a way to sell prescriptions for less, even if that means going out of the country to import the drugs themselves for resale.
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George Anderson – Moderator