Posted At The Pryor Daily Times
BY : The Daily Times Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry is undaunted by the failure of his drug reimportation program during the 2005 legislative session.
"I absolutely intend to once again push my drug reimportation program next year," Henry told The Associated Press. "As I have always said, the status quo is simply not acceptable. There are Oklahomans across Oklahoma that simply cannot afford the medications they need to live."
He has experience in pushing what he terms as "challenging" legislation, such as a year ago when he prevailed in getting lawmakers to send a cigarette tax increase plan to a statewide vote over opposition from tobacco concerns. He said his reimportation effort is being vigorously fought by the pharmaceutical industry.
Henry commented last week after an announcement of a new Web site and telephone number - www.pparxok.org (1-888-477-2669) to help Oklahomans gain access to discount drug programs.
It is part of a national program of the Washington, D.C.-based Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Henry said he believes the program is in "direct response" to pressure from governors, both Democratic and Republican, who are advocating drug reimportation legislation.
The Oklahoma governor said legislation enacted this year to create the Oklahoma Smart Card is similar to the pharmaceutical industry's program. He said such programs are good, but they primarily impact only low-income citizens.
He said they are not a long-range solution to skyrocketing prescription drug prices that are the No. 1 driver of high health care costs, a major problem for both individuals and businesses.
Henry favors a three-pronged effort to permit reimportation of U.S.-manufactured drugs from Canada and other industrialized nations.
He would authorize companies to help with reimportation of such drugs, create a state Web site to assist citizens wanting to buy such medications and permit Oklahoma pharmacies to reimport drugs to be sold only to Oklahoma customers.
