Debate on a proposal that would make it easier to bring prescription drugs into the country from abroad is taking center stage on the Senate floor as part of the health care reform debate.
The Associated Press: "A bipartisan group of lawmakers hopes to finally win a long struggle to ease curbs against importing low-cost prescription drugs but will have to overcome the Obama administration and the pharmaceutical industry to do so." The amendment would "allow U.S. pharmacies and drug wholesalers to import Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs from Canada, Europe and a few other countries. People on both sides of the issue say it will be tough for supporters to get the 60 votes they'll need to win" (Fram, 12/10).
The Seattle Times/The Associated Press: "Some import supporters question whether the administration is acting to keep the powerful pharmaceutical industry's support for [President Barack] Obama's effort to overhaul the nation's health-care system. An administration official denied that. ... Even before Dorgan introduced it Tuesday night, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent senators a letter saying the plan would be 'logistically challenging' to implement and raises 'significant safety concerns.' ... Dorgan said he was surprised by the letter because Obama co-sponsored Dorgan's proposal in 2007 as a freshman Democratic senator from Illinois. In addition, Dorgan noted, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel sponsored another version of the bill that same year as a Democratic House member from Illinois" (Fram, 12/10).
The Wall Street Journal: "In a letter to Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg also said overseeing importation would be 'resource intensive.' The letter was a response to a request by Sen. Brownback, who in the past has opposed reimportation of drugs." Dorgan responded by calling the FDA letter "completely bogus" (Mundy, 12/9).