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Drug Importation is not the Issue
Posted By Stefan Monsaureus
State and local governments continute to debate the merits of importing pharmaceuticals from Canada. While this is a justifiable attempt to circumvent the artificially high cost of drugs in this country, it is an obfuscation of the true issue.
At its core, this is not a question of FDA authority to regulate drug imports. It is not about the safety of the drugs, the risk of counterfeiting, or (as has recently been suggested) about protecting against terrorist attacks. The real (in fact the only) issue is why these drugs - developed, manufactured, and marketed in the U.S. - cost more here than in other countries.
The reconciliation of free market economics with public financing of biomedical research may seem like an intractable problem; however, in light of our acute need to control the growth of medical expenditures it must be addressed. It is time to revisit the Bayh-Dole act, or at the very least to begin more liberal enforcement of its “march-in” provision, which permits generic licensing of drugs considered vital to the public interest (for example, see www.essentialinventions.org). Our government-funded research enterprise continues to make important advances in the treatment of a variety of diseases. We must ensure that these are translated into public benefits rather than subsidies to the pharmaceutical industry.
This is not to say that government should step in to ensure a continuing supply of inexpensive Viagra or botox injections. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify the substantially higher prices charged in this country for vitally important medications.
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2 September 2004
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