DeLauro, House and Senate Leaders Renew Effort to Allow Prescription Drug Importation
DeLauro, House and Senate Leaders Renew Effort to Allow Prescription Drug Importation
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today joined U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D- MI), and Representatives JoAnn Emerson (R-MO), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) to reintroduce The Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act - legislation that allows wholesalers, pharmacies, and individuals to import FDA-approved prescription drugs from abroad. DeLauro was an original cosponsor of the legislation in the 109th Congress and today renewed her support for the effort.
"This Congress needs to pass reimportation because prescription drugs are the foundation of modern medicine - not only for seniors, but for every American," said DeLauro. "They are inextricably linked to health care costs, which is why when drug prices skyrocket, so does the cost for health care, impacting every family, every worker, every business in this country. Reimportation is about lowering drug costs for every American."
Media reports have found that companies have raised prices on many top-selling medicines by 6 percent or more last year, double the overall inflation rate. Eli Lilly, the sixth-largest American drug maker, reported third-quarter sales that had risen 7 percent, nearly $4 billion, profits up 10 percent from 2005. Such gains resulted almost entirely from its prices rising 11 percent in the United States , while actually falling in Europe and Japan . Last year, Pfizer raised the list prices of some of its biggest drugs by 5.5 percent or more - also significantly above the inflation rate. And other companies as well.
"That tells us unequivocally that the time has come to act," said DeLauro.
In addition to supporting importation, DeLauro will work as the incoming-chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to provide additional resources to the FDA to reduce the backlog of generic drug applications. Adding more generic drugs to the market will provide lower-cost drug options to all Americans.
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2007/January/Prescription_Drug_Importation_01_10_07.html