Allow imports of Rx drugs

When you compare the consumer costs of prescription drugs in the United States with those in other industrialized nations, it's harder to stomach drug companies' arguments against Americans importing inexpensive prescription drugs from Canada and Europe.

Drug manufacturers argue that a proposal before Congress to permit "reimportation" of drugs already sold in the United States will compromise the safety of the nation's prescription drug supply. The industry also argues that profits derived from higher prices charged to Americans drives research and development of new drugs.

These arguments suppose that other industrialized nations have no regulation to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of prescription drugs. Beyond that, why must American consumers and taxpayers subsidize drug research and development while international consumers enjoy substantially lower prescription prices?

Congress should not be persuaded by these straw man arguments, considering that a growing number of Americans are already seeking prescription drugs out of the country with what appears to be minimal risk. Consumers who have concerns about reimportation will continue to have the option of purchasing prescription drugs in the United States.

But they will pay a high price for that peace of mind. According to a price comparison compiled by the New York Times, 30 doses of Zocor, a cholesterol inhibitor, cost about $129.99 at CVS.com, based in the United States. Meanwhile, The Canadian Drug Store.com charges $67.43 for the same number of tablets and dosage.

According to Canada's Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, a government health agency, average drug prices in the United States were 67 percent higher than those in Canada and twice those of Italy and France in 2002. No small wonder that a growing number of people — particularly seniors on fixed incomes — have begun to shop for prescription drugs overseas via the mail or the Internet.

How Congress deals with this proposal will be a test of its mettle as far as drug manufacturers are concerned. Drug makers are among the biggest contributors to political campaigns, giving some $27 million in the 2002 election cycle. Early Friday morning, the House voted 243-186 to allow Americans to purchase prescription medicine abroad. All three of Utah's representatives voted against the bill and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah has already voiced his opposition to the legislation.