Reimportation Of Prescription Drugs

Statement By 60 Plus Association President, James L. Martin

“The 60 Plus Association strongly opposes any amendment or bill, which would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs.

“Senate bill S. 7 introduced last week by Senators’ Kennedy, Breaux, Mikulski, Daschle, Murray, Dodd, Leahy and others would weaken the Social Security Act by — among other things — allowing for the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada.

“As we’ve clearly stated the past few years whenever such legislation was considered, reimporation of prescription drugs is a problem waiting to happen. It would pose a serious threat to the safety and health of the American consumer and fail to solve the problem of affordable access to prescription drugs. Frankly, it’s little more than an open door for terrorists and ought to be vigorously opposed by any senator who cares about America’s senior citizens.

“Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and his predecessor, Donna Shalala, and every living former Food and Drug Administration commissioner since 1969 — including present commissioner Mark
McClellan — Democrats and Republicans alike, have all publicly stated their opposition to the importation of prescription drugs. They know that reimported pharmaceuticals could well introduce foreign counterfeits into the American distribution system. Also, that proper storage and handling of legitimate pharmaceuticals would not be able to be guaranteed by U.S. law once drugs made here in the States’ left our boundaries, eventually to return to our country after Canadian price-fixing schemes were applied.

“The 60 Plus Association has been and remains on record opposing such legislation. Drug reimportation is bad medicine. It’s hazardous to your health.

“60 Plus says finding a fix for affordable drug prices should be done from within, not from without. We strongly support fair pricing for seniors for all prescription drugs, but not at the risk of their health and safety.”