Several Senators call for the allowance of importation of expensive medications from Canada under certain circumstances. This has been expressed in a letter to the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price. Attached is the letter from Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John McCain (R-AZ) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): http://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/constituents/20170214%20Secretary%20Price%20reimportation%20letter.pdf
"Those circumstances are: If a drug is off patent or no longer marketed in the US by the innovator company that initially developed that drug; if there are “significant and unexplained increases in price”; if no direct competitor drug is currently marketed and the introduction of such a competitor will lower prices for taxpayers and consumers; or if the drug is produced in another country by a brand name manufacturer or by a “well-known generic manufacturer that commonly sells pharmaceutical products in the US.” - Zachary Brennan, Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
The unknown receipt of counterfeit drugs from illegitimate destinations can be a problem if ordered from a Canadian Pharmacy but this can be avoided by proper screening and vetting of the approved pharmacies. I am in favor of this policy if it can be implemented properly.
See the attached newsletter from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPs):
http://www.raps.org/Regulatory-Focus/News/2017/02/14/26832/Senators-Call-on-HHS-to-Allow-Canadian-Drug-Imports-if-Prices-Spike/
No comments:
Post a Comment