Tuesday, January 18, 2005
More questions about drug importation
[Jack Strayer, "Drug importation is not a viable long-term solution," The Dodge City Globe, 14 January 2005.]
NCPA health care expert Jack Strayer questions whether Canada drugs from Canada can meet American needs in this recent letter to the editor:
[S]avings from Canadian online pharmacies have been shrinking rapidly. In many cases, Internet entrepreneurs are forced to buy drugs at higher prices from traditional brick and mortar stores, only to turn around and sell them to American seniors.
But a serious reduction in savings isn't the only problem for pro-importation forces. Their model, the one they rely so heavily on as evidence the policy has potential for success, is nearing total collapse. The Canadian government is now seriously considering restrictions to cross-border sales. They range from the creation of a list of banned exportable drugs to the end of doctors co-signing prescriptions for patients they have never examined. The latter would effectively kill the system for good.
As if American patients needed more evidence that drug importation is not a viable long-term solution, Canada's Health Minister now says they simply will not be America's drugstore and cannot vouch for the safety of drugs that originate in other countries.
Prices are rising, our northern neighbors have serious concerns, and the system some U.S. politicians have hung their hats on now hangs itself by a thread. As a U.S. Surgeon general report found before any of these developments took place, prescription drug importation is a flawed and failing solution to high drug costs. It is time to look to safer, more effective means of making life-saving drugs more affordable.
[Jack Strayer, "Drug importation is not a viable long-term solution," The Dodge City Globe, 14 January 2005.]
NCPA health care expert Jack Strayer questions whether Canada drugs from Canada can meet American needs in this recent letter to the editor:
[S]avings from Canadian online pharmacies have been shrinking rapidly. In many cases, Internet entrepreneurs are forced to buy drugs at higher prices from traditional brick and mortar stores, only to turn around and sell them to American seniors.
But a serious reduction in savings isn't the only problem for pro-importation forces. Their model, the one they rely so heavily on as evidence the policy has potential for success, is nearing total collapse. The Canadian government is now seriously considering restrictions to cross-border sales. They range from the creation of a list of banned exportable drugs to the end of doctors co-signing prescriptions for patients they have never examined. The latter would effectively kill the system for good.
As if American patients needed more evidence that drug importation is not a viable long-term solution, Canada's Health Minister now says they simply will not be America's drugstore and cannot vouch for the safety of drugs that originate in other countries.
Prices are rising, our northern neighbors have serious concerns, and the system some U.S. politicians have hung their hats on now hangs itself by a thread. As a U.S. Surgeon general report found before any of these developments took place, prescription drug importation is a flawed and failing solution to high drug costs. It is time to look to safer, more effective means of making life-saving drugs more affordable.
Comments:
Post a Comment
