Insider Challenges Drug Industry on Imports

[LiviaOlivia]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/24/politics/24drug.html

September 24, 2004
Insider Challenges Drug Industry on Imports
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 - A dissident executive from Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, denounced the pharmaceutical industry on Thursday for resisting legislation that would allow imports of low-cost prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. His comments gave new life to a flagging effort by members of Congress from both parties and both houses to pass such legislation this year.

The executive, Dr. Peter Rost, said: "Holding up a vote on importation, stopping good importation bills has a high, high cost not just in money, but in American lives. Every day we delay, Americans die because they cannot afford life-saving drugs.''

<snip>

The House voted in July 2003 to allow Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. Supporters of the legislation thought they had a commitment from the Senate majority leader, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, to allow a vote. But Dr. Frist, who opposes the legislation, now says the Senate will probably not have time to debate the legislation. Amy Call, a spokesman for Dr. Frist, said Thursday, "Until he sees a way we can do this safely, he won't put the American people in jeopardy'' by allowing imports.

<snip>

[Melodybe]

1. These drugs are made in America, they are being sold here

for more than twice the price of what they pay in Canada and Mexico.

On his show, Dave Attell, bought a ton of namebrand, perscription drugs for about $20. What he bought would have cost over $200 here.

In some cases we are spending TEN times what we have to, for namebrand medicine.

This is so disgusting that we are even debating this. The repugs are so low.

[salvorhardin]

3. One of my clients

recently started getting his heart medication through a Canadian pharmacy. I'm not sure exactly what he's taking, but he says it's a pretty common drug. Previously he was paying $65 a month through Walmart -- that's right, Walmart the supposedly low price people. Through the Canadian pharmacy he dealt with he was able to get an entire year's supply of medication for about $260 or about a third of the price he was paying through Walmart.

He said the only thing that had him worried is the Canadian pharmacy shipped his order from the U.K., but everything went exactly as was described and a couple weeks later he had his medication.

What the drug companies are doing in the U.S. should be criminal.

[baby_bear]

2. We shouldn't have to re-import drugs from Canada

If Congress would exert price controls on drugs manufactured here - mcuh of which were developed at taxpayer expense through university research subsidized by federal taxes, and tax deductions for research and development - our prices would be reasonable and there would be no need to debate the import issue.

The pharmaceutical lobby is the biggest in Washington.

And the taxpayers pay for it, big time. Our representatives, almost down to the last one (but not every single one) bow and scrape at their thrown.

No one speaks of the real issue.

s_m

[thecrow]

4. he won't put the American people in jeopardy'' by allowing imports

Are the Canadians in jeopardy?