Friday, April 23, 2004
Drug reimportation momentum builds
[Mark Sherman, "More in Congress Back Canada Drug Imports," Associated Press, The Wichita Eagle, 21 April 2004.]
While support for allowing prescription drug importation grows, understanding of the consequences does not seem to be on the rise. While it remains up for debate whether importation is a good thing from a market-oriented perspective, one thing seems clear: Any savings from such a move would be short-lived as either drug companies begin to restrict supplies or the price controls of other countries begin to crumble.
Support for legalizing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada is growing in Congress amid an election-year clamor from states, lawmakers and the elderly.
The White House and Republican congressional leaders remain opposed, saying there is no way to ensure safety. Nonetheless, proponents contend that public frustration with rising drug prices and growing defiance of a federal ban on prescription imports will force action before the November elections.
The latest legislation to allow Americans to fill their prescriptions in Canada was introduced Wednesday by a diverse group of Republican and Democratic senators. It would eventually allow drugs to be imported from 20 industrialized countries, mainly Europe.
[Mark Sherman, "More in Congress Back Canada Drug Imports," Associated Press, The Wichita Eagle, 21 April 2004.]
While support for allowing prescription drug importation grows, understanding of the consequences does not seem to be on the rise. While it remains up for debate whether importation is a good thing from a market-oriented perspective, one thing seems clear: Any savings from such a move would be short-lived as either drug companies begin to restrict supplies or the price controls of other countries begin to crumble.
Support for legalizing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada is growing in Congress amid an election-year clamor from states, lawmakers and the elderly.
The White House and Republican congressional leaders remain opposed, saying there is no way to ensure safety. Nonetheless, proponents contend that public frustration with rising drug prices and growing defiance of a federal ban on prescription imports will force action before the November elections.
The latest legislation to allow Americans to fill their prescriptions in Canada was introduced Wednesday by a diverse group of Republican and Democratic senators. It would eventually allow drugs to be imported from 20 industrialized countries, mainly Europe.
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