A public health policy, supported by both the Biden and Trump administrations, appears to be on track to allow for the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada to Florida. This would finally lift a decades-old ban on certain pharmaceuticals being brought into the US.
The FDA has approved a state program for importing drugs in order to decrease the cost of medication for American consumers. This program ensures that there are no added health or safety risks.
Pharmaceutical companies in the US cited safety concerns in their opposition to the program, which stalled after approval by Congress at the start of the century and was resurrected during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared on Thursday that Florida has been granted permission to import medication directly from Canadian producers. This is seen as a win for Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, who filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration in 2022 for their delay in approving the importation.
According to DeSantis, Florida has been prepared for almost two years to provide affordable prescription drugs to those in need. He stated that his legal action estimated a savings of $150 million for consumers in the first year after receiving approval.
There are still multiple tasks that need to be completed before a two-year license can be granted and the initial medications can be transported across the border. Florida is required to provide the FDA with specific information about the drugs it plans to bring in and confirm their legitimacy. Furthermore, all Canadian pharmaceuticals that are imported must have FDA-approved labels attached.
US drug manufacturers, meanwhile, are expected to file lawsuits to try to block the approval, while health authorities in Canada have also taken protective steps. When Trump announced the revival of the import program in 2020, Canadian lawmakers acted to block the export of drugs if it would create a shortage at home.
According to an email from Maryse Durette, a spokesperson for Health Canada, the drug supply in Canada is insufficient to satisfy the needs of both American and Canadian buyers.
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According to the New York Times, several other states are either currently seeking or making plans to seek FDA approval through the program. These states include Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Biden has prioritized reducing drug costs for consumers in the US. As part of this effort, his administration is currently in talks with American pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of crucial medications. In August of last year, they announced the first 10 drugs that may see reduced prices.
Source: theguardian.com
