US to import cheap drugs
2000-10-10 14:55
Washington - As a direct result of the high cost of medicines, the United States
Congress is likely to approve legislation to import drugs from
foreign countries - an issue over which, until recently, it has slated South
Africa.
Five years ago, when former health minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma proposed
legislation to implement the so-called parallel importation of drugs,
the Clinton administration, spurred on by the American pharmaceutical
industry, protested vehemently.
South Africa was placed on a watch list following Zuma's proposals, which the
pharmaceutical industry said, purportedly
infringed on US patent rights.
These tensions between South African and the US were only allayed
earlier this year when President Bill Clinton signed an executive order making it possible for poor countries to manufacture or
import cheaper generic drugs.
And now it appears the US congress, despite strong
opposition from the pharmaceutical industry in that country, is prepared to
follow South Africa's example by importing cheaper drugs.
Comparatively speaking Americans pay much more for drugs
manufactured by their own pharmaceutical companies. The very same drugs are considerably cheaper abroad because foreign governments apply price controls.
A situation developed where US senior citizens,
or patients requiring chronic medicine crossed the borders to Canada
or Mexico to buy drugs there where they were up to five times cheaper.
And now support for legislation for cheaper imported drugs has
emerged among Republicans and Democrats.
The pharmaceutical industry is fighting the legislation tooth and
nail. Umbrella organisation for
the pharmaceutical industry PhrMa chairperson Alan F Holmer labelled the proposed legislation "a
well-intentioned, but bad idea".
PhrMa argues that the new legislation would open the door to the
import of adulterated medicines and medicines with incorrect labels.