Posted At Kentucky.com
By: Jonathan M. Katz
WASHINGTON - Taking a step toward allowing the widespread importation of cheap prescription drugs, lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation that would bar U.S. trade representatives from forging agreements to block such deals.
Recent trade agreements with Singapore, Australia and Morocco require the consent of drug patent owners in order to import drugs for sale in the United States, which would effectively prevent the practice. The bill would block trade representatives from making those deals with other countries.
"It's a very clever attempt to set up another set of hurdles through trade agreements. That is so cynical and so against the interests of the American people. It's very disturbing," said one of the bill's sponsors, Sen. David Vitter, R-La.
A version of the bill was introduced in both the Senate and House. Each was sponsored by a Republican - Vitter and Rep. Anne Northup of Kentucky's 3rd District, respectively - and two Democrats - Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.
The benefits of drug importation will be felt immediately, Northup said. "You will get your prescriptions from the same place you've always gotten them, they'll just be getting them through the international market."
Residents of states bordering Canada, such as Michigan, are keenly aware of the availability of lower-cost drugs. "In a lot of cases you can literally drive just a few hundred feet and get your costs lower," Stabenow said. "Competition will bring down prices."
But some Republican leaders remain opposed to drug importation.
"If we simply push open the doors to widespread importation, it would put public safety at risk," said Craig Orfield, a spokesman for Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo. and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "He does not want to go down that avenue right now."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., will reserve judgment until the bill is approved by Enzi's committee, Frist spokesman Nick Smith said. "Any drug reimportation legislation must address safety concerns," he added.
Northup said the leadership was too close to the pharmaceutical industry to make a good decision on drug importation.
"When you've become good friends with a group of people and you've supported their position for a long, long time, you really aren't eager to take another look at it, to maybe have to say to your friends, 'I think you're wrong on this,'" she said.
The pressure on leaders is likely to increase. Stabenow and fellow Democrat Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota predicted at least 60 senators will support drug reimportation. And Northup said the leadership is also outnumbered in the House.
"I think it's clear to the leadership that a majority of the members don't share their position," she said.
