U.S. House OK's Easing Drug Import Rules

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U.S. House OK's Easing Drug Import Rules
From International Anti-Aging Systems Newsletter

We thought the following report from Reuters would be of interest to all our American clients. It looks as thought, at long last, the FDA regulations are no longer discretionary on the import of prescription medicines. L Although this doesn't elaborate on "unapproved" medicines, it is interesting to note that the original regulation was specifically for "unapproved" medicines, prompted by the demands of HIC patients. Here is the report:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Amid growing public resentment of high prescription drug prices, the House voted overwhelmingly Monday to prevent the government from discouraging the purchase of drugs in Canada or other countries.
An increasing number of Americans have been going to Canada, Mexico and other countries to purchase prescription drugs cheaper than what they cost in the United States.

Technically, it's illegal to import prescription drugs that were originally made in the United States! And the Food and Drug Administration sometimes sends warning letters to people caught doing it. The agency gives its employees discretion to permit imports of drugs that violate its restrictions so long as they are intended for personal use.
The house approved, 363-12, an amendment to an FDA appropriations bill that would prevent the agency from enforcing the importation ban, as long as the drugs are for personal use. A second amendment, approved 370-12, would bar the agency from sending the warning letters.

"People's lives are being shortened today because of the abnormally high and ridiculously increased price of prescriptions," said Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Because of cost controls, drugs can cost several times less in Canada, Medico and Europe than in the United states, leading some Americans to buy their pharmaceuticals by mail order or else join bus trips across the border to fill their prescriptions.
For example, Prilosec, a popular ulcer medication, costs $400 for 100 capsules in New York, but $184 in Canada and $107 in Mexico, said Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-NY.
"Prescrition drugs and medicines are not a luxury, they are a necessity," added Crowley. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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