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"Nearly
3 million people in Illinois alone don't have prescription drug
coverage, which means they either go without the medicine they need,
they take smaller doses than what their doctor prescribes, or they
sacrifice other essentials like groceries to pay for their
prescription drugs. No one should be forced to make those choices,"
said Gov. Blagojevich. "We're doing what we can at the state level
to help our citizens get their medication at a price they can afford
-- even if that means buying them in places like Canada and Europe
where they cost half as much. But real, long-term change will
require action at the federal level. The United States Senate has an
opportunity to make a huge difference in millions of people's lives.
We hope Senator Frist will not pass up this chance."
In the letter, signed by
governors who launched their own importation plans, Frist was called
upon to allow The Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act
of 2004 (S
2328) to be voted on before legislators return to their
districts in early October. A similar bill (HR 2427) passed the
House several times.
Earlier this year, Frist
indicated he would allow the bipartisan Dorgan-Snowe bill to be
debated and voted on by the full Senate, after a group of bipartisan
senators threatened to block the appointment of Mark McClennan as
director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In a
recent statement, Frist stated, "It looks doubtful, just given we
have 23 days."
Senate Bill 2328, introduced by
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., would allow for the importation of
FDA-approved prescription drugs from 19 developed countries,
including Canada. Safety precautions include FDA inspections of
foreign sites, anticounterfeiting measures and strict labeling
requirements.
New Hampshire and Wisconsin
both offer their citizens links to online pharmacies in Canada that
have been approved by their states' inspectors.
In late August, Gov.
Blagojevich announced that Illinois will establish a program
enabling its residents to order their prescription drugs from
state-inspected pharmacies and wholesalers in Canada, Ireland and
the United Kingdom. Illinois' program will be limited to
prescription refills and can only be filled after a network
physician in Canada or the United Kingdom has approved and rewritten
the American prescription. Narcotics and perishable drugs will not
included in the program. The plan will be launched later this month.
[For details, see
plan announcement and
Q&A.]
[to top of second column in
this article]
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The text of the letter sent by
the governors follows:
Dear Senator Frist,
We are discouraged by recent media
reports that you may not call prescription drug importation
legislation for a vote in the U.S. Senate before lawmakers leave
Washington, D.C., despite an earlier commitment to give your Chamber
an opportunity to take action on the proposal. We urge you to
reconsider.
The high cost of prescription drugs in
our country is having a detrimental impact on people of all ages and
in all regions of the United States. Recent U.S. census figures show
that, for the third straight year, the number of uninsured Americans
has gone up – 45 million in 2003, an increase of 1.4 million. That
means more people are forced to choose between necessities like
groceries and medications.
Unfortunately, far too many people have to make those tough choices.
And because Congress and the FDA have failed to find ways to help
people afford the high cost of prescription drugs, states and cities
have had to deal with the problem on their own.
Providing Americans access to
affordable prescription drugs is a consumer issue, not a partisan
issue. As Governors from different political parties, we share a
common commitment to helping our citizens safely find better prices
outside the U.S. for the medications their doctors prescribe –
something more than one million individuals a year are already
doing. Our efforts will make a difference for residents in our
respective states; but long-term, nationwide relief must come at the
federal level.
The U.S. Senate has before it
legislation that could permanently break down the artificial pricing
system pharmaceutical companies have used to gouge American
consumers. The
Dorgan-Snowe bill, S. 2328, has
bipartisan support from lawmakers in both chambers of Congress. A
similar proposal has won approval in the House of Representatives
three times. Now is not the time to slow the momentum for change.
We recognize, respect, and echo your
wish that all imported drugs are safe and meet the FDA's
requirements. By contracting with legitimate and respected foreign
pharmacies and sending experts to inspect foreign facilities, we are
providing safeguards that are lacking in the current buyer-beware
environment. The Dorgan-Snowe bill will go even further by providing
a uniform set of safety procedures, including FDA approval of all
imported drugs, labeling requirements that meet U.S. standards,
counterfeiting measures, and the maintenance of pedigree
documentation, which will allow FDA inspectors to verify and check
the origin and chain-of-custody of all drugs imported to the U.S.
Furthermore, this bill will rein in the anti-free market practices
used by large drug manufacturers to limit the supply of drugs to
countries that export to the U.S. Pfizer could no longer threaten
pharmacies and wholesalers in Canada and the United Kingdom that
have agreed to sell prescription drugs to American consumers at
prices they can afford.
We urge you to follow through on your
commitment to call the Dorgan-Snowe legislation for a vote this
fall. By legitimizing and regulating the importation of prescription
drugs, we, as a country, can move forward in ensuring that
safeguards are in place to give our consumers access to drugs that
are both safe and affordable.
Respectfully,
Rod Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois
Craig Benson
Governor of New Hampshire
Jim Doyle
Governor of Wisconsin
[News release from the
governor's office] |
