Senate kills bid to import prescription drugs

cat's meow · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2007, 09:41 PM

Another A1 screwing over by the drug lobby!

Quote:

Senate kills bid to import prescription drugs
Supporters point to lower prices; opponents cite safety and quality

Updated: 6:35 p.m. CT May 7, 2007
WASHINGTON - In a triumph for the pharmaceutical industry, the Senate on Monday killed a drive to allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from abroad at a significant savings over domestic prices.

On a 49-40 vote, the Senate required the administration to certify the safety and effectiveness of imported drugs before they can be imported, a requirement that officials have said they cannot meet.

“Well, once again the big drug companies have proved that they are the most powerful and best financed lobby in Washington,” said Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican.

The vote neutralized a second amendment, later passed on a voice vote, that would legalize the importation of prescription drugs manufactured in Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called the certification amendment, introduced by Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., a “poison pill” for the drug-imports legislation. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., acknowledged it nullified his bid to allow the purchase of drugs abroad.

“This is a setback for us. But the drug industry is one of the strongest industries in this town,” Dorgan said.

Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, said the requirement for a safety certification was essential to protect the public.

“Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, secretaries of Health and Human Services have declined to certify that foreign drugs — like those allowed under the Dorgan Foreign Drug Act — are safe for American consumers. They realized, as I do, that close enough isn’t good enough,” Enzi said.

The maneuvering occurred on broader legislation to renew the FDA’s ability to collect fees from the drug industry to defray the cost of reviewing new drugs. Lawmakers have seized on the bill to overhaul the agency, including its handling of drug-safety issues highlighted in the wake of the withdrawal of the painkiller Vioxx.

Advocates of drug importation have argued for years that an existing ban is more a protection for the drug industry than a safety issue.

Overseas, drugs can cost two-thirds less than they do in the United States, where prices for brand-name drugs are among the highest in the world. In many industrialized countries, prices are lower because they are either controlled or partially controlled by government regulation.

Dorgan said allowing imports would drive down the price of U.S. brand-name drugs. He said 90 doses of the cholesterol drug Lipitor costs $321 in the U.S. — about twice the cost in Canada.

The idea of allowing prescription drug imports enjoys broad popular support. However, lower prices overseas would not automatically translate into large savings for domestic consumers, according to a 2004 study by the Congressional Budget Office.

The study found that allowing drug imports from a broad set of countries would cut U.S. drug spending by $40 billion over 10 years, about a 1 percent savings. It said foreign governments could limit drug exports to protect their own domestic supplies, and that U.S. drug companies could respond to an importation bill by increasing prices abroad.

The pharmaceutical industry vehemently opposes allowing drug imports, arguing that they could leave the nation vulnerable to dangerous counterfeits.

Similar drug-import legislation is pending in the House.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

Still Dizzy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 04:13 AM

Actually it is only SOME drug companies that are baned from selling in the USA. Treva, of Israel makes generics when the patent expires. I don't know the how's, or why's on who decides what is permitted.
Tip of the day? Do a search of Treva. I got into them about four years ago and have done 'nicely.' Solid company with a lot of legs left.

RASTAMAN · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

Another A1 screwing over by the drug lobby!

Simply put, the drug lobbyist spend more money than the average voters spends to keep these senators on capital hill in the first place!!

Why should these senators listen to and pass legislation for the average Joe, when these senators know that the average American voter sends no money to get them re-elected in the first place. On average it takes around $50
million dollars to keep an incumbent in a Senatorial seat on capital hill. Just by mere numbers (200,000 voters or more), if enough voters got together and each donated around $250 dollars each, you can actually out spend corporate lobbyist, and unseat the bought and paid for Corporate Incumbent Senators who pass legislation and laws to benefit the wealthy and corporate America.

So "We the People" need to stop crying and complaining until we get politically active and start recruiting and financing candidates that can un-seat incumbent Senators and "We the People" can send a freshmen Senatorial Candidates to Congress that will pass laws and legislation on behalf of the average voters in this country.

"We The People" will continue to get raped and screwed so long as we allow Wedge Issues to divide-conquer and dilute the power of our VOTE!

So until the everyday Liberal and Conservatives in the income brackets of 12K to 85K continue to view one another as the enemy! and we continue not to get politically active to recruit and finance our own Senators; JUST GET READY--BEND OVER AND GET SCREWED!!!!

SydneySteel · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 07:09 AM

There are a couple of aspects of this that I find a bit confusing. For example, many of the drugs that were/are being imported from Canada are manufactured in the US. Those drug companies who export to Canada allot a certain amount for that export at lower prices. Canada was the entity that placed a restriction on the export back to the US because it left their stockpiles so depleted that they were afraid of penalizing Canadian citizens.

The other thing is that many of the drugs sold here at exorbitant prices have natural equivalents sold over the internet at greatly reduced prices with better, more reliable effects. If Americans would do a little research they could find those medicines. One example is the herbal cholesterol lowering Policosanol. It costs $9.00 for a 30-day supply. Compared to Lipitor that's almost free. Research reveals that Policosanol is MORE effective than Lipitor and much safer and has NO side effects.

Americans are prescription happy anyway and many patients actually demand that their doctors prescribe medication or they feel they haven't really been treated. Many prescriptions are unnecessary. And many doctors own stock in pharmaceutical companies.

For those who must take prescription medications for which there is no herbal equivalent this action by Congress is just one more screw job in a long list of many.

Petey · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Dizzy

Actually it is only SOME drug companies that are baned from selling in the USA. Treva, of Israel makes generics when the patent expires. I don't know the how's, or why's on who decides what is permitted.
Tip of the day? Do a search of Treva. I got into them about four years ago and have done 'nicely.' Solid company with a lot of legs left.

http://www.trevas.com/

Still Dizzy · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petey

http://www.trevas.com/

How did I know that YOU would know that site?

bluedog · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneySteel

There are a couple of aspects of this that I find a bit confusing. For example, many of the drugs that were/are being imported from Canada are manufactured in the US. Those drug companies who export to Canada allot a certain amount for that export at lower prices. Canada was the entity that placed a restriction on the export back to the US because it left their stockpiles so depleted that they were afraid of penalizing Canadian citizens.

The other thing is that many of the drugs sold here at exorbitant prices have natural equivalents sold over the internet at greatly reduced prices with better, more reliable effects. If Americans would do a little research they could find those medicines. One example is the herbal cholesterol lowering Policosanol. It costs $9.00 for a 30-day supply. Compared to Lipitor that's almost free. Research reveals that Policosanol is MORE effective than Lipitor and much safer and has NO side effects.

Americans are prescription happy anyway and many patients actually demand that their doctors prescribe medication or they feel they haven't really been treated. Many prescriptions are unnecessary. And many doctors own stock in pharmaceutical companies.

For those who must take prescription medications for which there is no herbal equivalent this action by Congress is just one more screw job in a long list of many.

I agree...We as a nation have been indoctrinated into the thought process..that we must consult the medicine cabinet for every little ailment...of the body and mind.....there is a drug problem in this country..but its not the illegal drugs that are root to the problem...Every drug taken has side effects...some can even be toxic...if taken with other drugs.....Its like getting on a Wheel...that never stops....you take one..this leads to another..so on so forth......Natural cures...for minor pains and aches would stop most the companies from the practice of price setting to extremes. BD

justme · #8 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 06:59 PM

Some of you guys crack me up.
Lets NOT import pet food because thats too dangerous.
If it wasn't for those damn lobbyist we could import our medicine.
Yes, much safer to import medicine than it is to import fidos lunch.
This is really great stuff.

Joe_King · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

Simply put, the drug lobbyist spend more money than the average voters spends to keep these senators on capital hill in the first place!!

Why should these senators listen to and pass legislation for the average Joe, when these senators know that the average American voter sends no money to get them re-elected in the first place. On average it takes around $50
million dollars to keep an incumbent in a Senatorial seat on capital hill. Just by mere numbers (200,000 voters or more), if enough voters got together and each donated around $250 dollars each, you can actually out spend corporate lobbyist, and unseat the bought and paid for Corporate Incumbent Senators who pass legislation and laws to benefit the wealthy and corporate America.

So "We the People" need to stop crying and complaining until we get politically active and start recruiting and financing candidates that can un-seat incumbent Senators and "We the People" can send a freshmen Senatorial Candidates to Congress that will pass laws and legislation on behalf of the average voters in this country.

"We The People" will continue to get raped and screwed so long as we allow Wedge Issues to divide-conquer and dilute the power of our VOTE!

So until the everyday Liberal and Conservatives in the income brackets of 12K to 85K continue to view one another as the enemy! and we continue not to get politically active to recruit and finance our own Senators; JUST GET READY--BEND OVER AND GET SCREWED!!!!

I think it is a LOT MORE than the drug lobbyist
We have 4 new drug stores being put in with in 10 minute drive from me and at least 14 drug stores that have opened doors in the past 24 or so months.

I think it isn't that cut and dry ... it seems as though other influences are overflowing into this equation also.

George O Well · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 11:32 AM

"Treva, of Israel makes generics when the patent expires."

>>>Yeah, I understand Treva makes an excellent generic Ecstacy. Fucking Israelis are the largest exporter of Ecstacy into this country (by far) and nobody says a word.