Monday, April 26, 2004

From the Aberdeen (SD) News:
Is reimportation coming? It's looking good
There may be light at the end of the tunnel for those bogged down in a financial mire by the high cost of prescription drugs.

Legislation is gathering steam in Congress to allow the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada and other countries. The legislation will also get the government involved in enforcing safety measures that opponents currently use to justify their stance against such re-importation.

From Investors Business Daily:
Drug-import issue a hot button for statehouses and D.C.
Spurred by the soaring costs of prescription drugs, more than 2 million Americans are currently buying their medicine from Canada, making drug importation a hot topic on Capitol Hill as well as in many states.

A growing number of states -- struggling with shrinking budgets and rising health-care costs for their workers and residents -- are attempting to sidestep Food and Drug Administration regulations banning foreign drug imports and are encouraging residents to import drugs.

From the Boston Globe:
Stoughton weighs Canada drug option
Exploring ways to reduce costs, town officials are considering adopting a voluntary prescription drug program that calls for Stoughton to buy less expensive medicine from Canada.

Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz said that if the town can save an estimated $75,000 to $100,000, the program would be worthwhile.

"It's a potential cost savings that you have to look at," he said.

From the Portales (NM) News Tribune:
Local pharmacists concerned about international prescription drugs
Pharmacists in Portales are concerned about support for legalizing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and Europe.

Dick Haverland, pharmacist at C.J.’s Pill Box Pharmacy, said his main concern was guaranteeing the purity of medications and ensuring they wouldn’t be forgeries.

From the Albany (OR) Democrat Herald:
Drug store crackdown miffs DeFazio
Congressman Peter DeFazio is protesting a state crackdown on businesses that help Oregonians get less expensive medications from Canada, and he challenged the governor to help.

"The Oregon Board of Pharmacy is cracking down on these drug outlets in the name of safety and protecting the health of Oregonians, but in reality the only thing they are protecting is the profits of the wealthy and politically connected pharmaceutical industry," the 4th District Democrat wrote in a letter to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

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