The Drug reimportation act explained (H.R. 2427 and those damned safemedicines.org ads)
The last few weeks I couldn't turn on a radio without hearing this commercial that basically tried to scare the American citizen (as talk show host Neal Boortz says 'the Dumb Masses') into being afraid to buy drugs that aren't made by a brand name drug company, for use in the USA. The ad goes something like this (I am paraphrasing cause I cannot find the transcript):
An Urgent Drug Safety Warning for America's Families. For years you have taken your prescription medicines without fearing for your safety because of the FDA gold standard. Now amazingly the Senate is considering a bill to remove such safeguards. Allowing the unregulated flow of drugs from across the border putting your safety at risk. Tell your local representative to vote against drug reimportation.
It is one thing for a politician to take chances with their life, it is another for them to risk yours. Don't Let Members of Congress Play Politics with Your Health. Visit www.safemedicines.org for more info.
Instantly the first time I heard this, my bullshit alarm was registering off the charts. I leaned in listening for which nice sounding pseudonym the drug lobby (PhRMA) would use in the paid for by such and such portion of the ad. I was expecting a name like the Association of Injured War Heroes, with Cancer, for Freedom and Justice. But no, even more sinister and clever... this time PhRMA sent out their wizened, white haired front organization to spread the gospel. This ad was paid for by the Seniors Coalition, whose web pages and PR releases look suspiciously similar to PhRMA's talking points.
The main reason that this nonsense pisses me off, is that the false premise of protecting us is so ridiculous that it is simply insulting to a voter's intelligence. The FDA has taken sides (that of PhRMA) in this fight, and most people don't even realize it. That in itself is very scary. Imagine a Gov't regulatory agency can play favorites. Could you imagine being on the wrong side of that? What if the USDA decided that John Q. Donor's meat company needs their endorsement as safer than your meat company?
This kind of political posturing by outwardly good intentioned agencies is a gross abuse of power by the Federal Gov't.
Beyond that is a frightening reflection of the state of things in government.
One has to assume that some or all of the following are somewhat or totally true:
Politicians are more emboldened than ever to lie to constituents
Voters are dumber or more apathetic than ever
Drug companies are more powerful than ever
Here are some facts that define the issue for me.
The opponents of drug reimportation would have you believe that it is in your best interest to take away your lawful right to shop internationally for drugs
No drugs that are currently banned or illegal will be made legal by this bill's passage (that includes but is not limited to RU486)
Drug research and development is paid for almost entirely by the inflated prices paid by US consumers, since the USA is one of the only countries that does not exercise price controls.
Now don't get me wrong, I am certainly not one of those anti-corporate types. As a staunch capitalist, I think a drug company should charge whatever it wants. After all they take tremendous financial risks (most of which fail) to develop almost any profitable medicine. What is more, I believe that the largest Pharmaceutical companies go above and beyond the call of duty by practically giving away drugs to those who cannot afford it. Let's face it in this country NO ONE is denied health care. Not only that, but no one is choosing between their next meal and their cancer medicine, as some political hacks would have us believe.
So what is the answer? Well I do believe in a private company's right to charge whatever it wants (except in very rare cases and this isn't one of them). The drug companies need to make a profit, that is their purpose. Right now they do that by charging a lot here, and just enough to scrape by in markets like Canada. If this bill were to pass, the drug companies would have huge loopholes to avoid the loss of revenues from US consumer importing their prescription's cheaper foreign counterpart. Let me give you one scenario. DrugCo. produces Lipitor in one large FDA approved factory, then bottles the US version (40$ per pill) in the same factory, while bottling the Canadian version ($20/ pill) in a building next door which is not FDA approved... US consumers only have access to 40/pill version.
So let the bill pass, give me the right and option to try to find drugs the cheapest and encourage competition, while letting the drug companies charge what they want.
After all, if the drug companies are really concerned about profits and they want to play hardball, they should stop supplying any drugs to countries that have price controls (I assure you those countries would pay more if drug companies called their socialist bluff). Most importantly while preserving the rights of business and individuals, these solutions leave the door opened to fierce competition to develop and distribute drugs at competitive prices while making as much money as possible. While the opposition to this bill is transparent, sinister and anti-American, price controls are even more anti-American and destructive. It is not the role of Gov't to limit or grant rights to businesses or individuals, as it relates to this matter.
The last few weeks I couldn't turn on a radio without hearing this commercial that basically tried to scare the American citizen (as talk show host Neal Boortz says 'the Dumb Masses') into being afraid to buy drugs that aren't made by a brand name drug company, for use in the USA. The ad goes something like this (I am paraphrasing cause I cannot find the transcript):