In mid-July, the US Senate lifted a...

In mid-July, the US Senate lifted a ban forward importing prescription medication, according to a July 21 2000 recents release from NewsEdge Corp. The lift results in response to complaints that American consumer pay more for prescription medication than foreign consumers

"The American public wants affordable medicines," said Sen Edward Kennedy (D-Mass). "I believe we should do all we can to cut down the financial burden imposed forward our citizens by high remedy costs."

Other legislators believe lifting the ban is risky. Sen John Breaux (D-La) said that certifying medications from abroad would be too often for the already overburdened US sustenance and Drug Administration.

The House of Representatives has passed similar measures as well. In single in kind provision, the House will allow Americans to bring prescription medications across the border from Mexico and Canada.

According to the release, the debate draws heavy opposition from the pharmaceutical industry. Alan Holmer president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said, "[The action] could jeopardize patient safety and would not render certain any savings for consumers."

Senate OK s Prescription Imports (Washington, DC: NewsEdge Corporation, July 21 2000) 1-3 Available from http:/www.individual.com/fr.../story.shtml? story =h0720013.800&level13=552&date=2000072. Accessed 21 July 2000

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