New Web Site Aims to Educate Consumers on Risks of Importing Prescription Drugs

PharmaManufacturing.com
06/21/2005

Citing a growing body of information that opening the U.S. borders to foreign drugs is risky and unsafe, on June 21 the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) launched an online research clearinghouse so patients and consumers can learn first hand the opinions of experts on the dangers associated with importing medicines.

The Web address is www.buysafedrugs.info.

“This site will help people understand the wide scope and depth of information that demonstrates importing prescription drugs outside of the FDA delivery system puts patients at risk. It also points patients to safe, legal alternatives to importation if they need help with their prescription drugs,” said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of PhRMA.

Over the last six months, there has been a stream of studies by America’s most respected healthcare and security voices on the subject. In April, Rudy Giuliani called for a halt to all importation schemes until the safety and security issues they raise can be resolved.

The former New York mayor is not alone. He joins Health and Human Services Secretaries from both the Clinton and Bush administrations, the U.S. Surgeon General and a long line of FDA commissioners in saying the money possibly saved by importing drugs from overseas is not worth the potential costs to the safety of our medicine supply.

A sampling of the content on www.buysafedrugs.info as of June 21:

• Ways consumers can identify counterfeit or tampered drugs and how to alert authorities to potential counterfeit drugs;
  
  
• Facts about the Canadian government’s refusal to verify the safety of drugs sold to Americans;
  
  
• The Giuliani Report on the safety and security risks of drug importation;
  
  
• Why the U.S. Surgeon General rejects importing foreign drugs as a cost saving measure;
  
  
• Polling information on why America's seniors don't trust foreign drugs when they learn the drugs may not be from Canada;
  
  
• Information on Europe’s checkered experience in importing foreign drugs;
  
  
• Background on the growing black market in counterfeit drugs and how to protect yourself.

The Web site also details safe, legal alternatives to importation, pointing visitors to various federal and state assistance programs and the pharmaceutical industry’s recently formed Partnership for Prescription Assistance (www.pparx.org or 1-888-4PPA-NOW), which matches those in need to programs that provide medicines for free or at reduced costs.