Prescription Drug Importation: A Threat to Public Health and Safety

As the Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Drug Importation prepares to hold a series of public hearings, a coalition of over 40 healthcare and anti-counterfeiting groups is sounding the alarm on the dangers of importing prescription drugs. The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a nonprofit organization, claims that such a practice is inherently unsafe and poses a significant threat to public health and safety. Doctors, patients, and community activists are expected to testify against the proposal, citing the risks of counterfeit and substandard medicines.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 40 healthcare and anti-counterfeiting groups have joined forces to oppose prescription drug importation, citing the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines.
• The FDA has reported an increase in counterfeiting activities and sophistication in methods used to introduce counterfeit drugs into the legitimate US distribution system.
• In 2004, the FDA estimated that outside the US, drug counterfeiting is widespread and affects both developing and developed countries, with more than half of the drug supply in some countries consisting of counterfeit drugs.
• Counterfeiting rates in South Africa and Thailand are reported to be 30% or higher, and Iran has been identified as an active state sponsor of terrorism and a potential source of counterfeit medicines.
• The Partnership for Safe Medicines has expressed concerns about the risks to consumers posed by allowing commercial importation of medicines from unknown, unverified, or unsafe foreign sources.

Statistics:

• 30% increase in Canadian imports of pharmaceuticals from Singapore between September 2002 and September 2003.
• 198% increase in Canadian imports of pharmaceuticals from Ecuador between September 2002 and September 2003.
• 43% increase in Canadian imports of pharmaceuticals from China between September 2002 and September 2003.
• 2,753% increase in Canadian imports of pharmaceuticals from Iran between September 2002 and September 2003.
• 52% increase in Canadian imports of pharmaceuticals from Thailand between September 2002 and September 2003.

Sources:

• Partnership for Safe Medicines
• FDA Report: Combating Counterfeit Drugs (February 2004)
• Industry Canada
• Lew Kontnik, author of Counterfeiting Exposed
• Larry King Cardiac Foundation
• Multiple Sclerosis patient Mark Barondess