Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a reckless decision to approve Florida’s plan to import certain prescription medicines from Canada. This decision poses a serious danger to public health, and we are deeply concerned for patient safety both in Florida and nationwide. Numerous states have tried and failed to implement drug importation over the years – most failed because the supposed savings were a mirage. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped some from continuing to push dangerous and flawed importation schemes.
There are several critical reasons why the administration’s decision to approve this proposal is bad for Americans and our safety:
- Increases threat of counterfeit and adulterated medicines. The FDA regulates a strict manufacturing and distribution system to help ensure medicines in the United States are safe and effective. Importation circumvents this regulatory system and exposes patients to greater risk of fake or substandard treatments. For example, the Canadian government does not guarantee the safety of medicines imported into the United States through Canada.
- Places unnecessary strain on law enforcement. Interpol's annual crackdown on counterfeit pharmaceuticals has yielded over 12 million individual units of fraudulent drugs and medical devices since 2021, with nine million units seized in 2021 and three million in 2022. Law enforcement already spends significant time and resources combatting illicit drug activity, a burden that is likely to grow more costly with the approval of this state plan. An investigation by former FBI director Louis Freeh found that importation would exacerbate criminal activity and “cause unnecessary strain on law enforcement.” The National Sheriffs’ Association has opposed importation because it “would jeopardize law enforcement’s ability to protect the public health” and “endanger” law enforcement officers and first responders.
- No guarantee that consumers will see any savings. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has previously found that importation through Canada “would produce a negligible reduction in drug spending,” and there’s no guarantee patients would see any of these potential savings. Meanwhile, there are numerous direct and indirect costs that would stem from importation schemes, and these costs would likely exceed any possible savings. So not only does this scheme fail to achieve the intended purpose of saving patients money, but it places politics ahead of their best interests.
Dangerous. Unnecessary. Ineffective. These are just a few reasons why we should reject efforts to adopt various importation schemes and are extremely disappointed with the FDA’s decision. Politicians need to stop getting between Americans and their health care.
Learn more about our concerns and problems with drug importation.
Gabby Migliara
Gabby Migliara is a director of Public Affairs at PhRMA focusing on internal communications and PhRMA’s digital presence, including maintaining this website and executive social presence. She previously worked with the U.S. Census Bureau on marketing and communications for the 2020 Census campaign. Outside the office, Gabby enjoys trying new restaurants, hanging with her cat and exploring D.C. neighborhoods.
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Florida’s importation plan puts patients in danger
Florida’s importation plan puts patients in danger