|
|
Maine and One of Its Tribes Look to Buy
Canadian Drugs
Pam Belluck, The New York Times
October 1, 2004
Maine yesterday became the latest state to try to find a way to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, but the state added a twist with a proposal that would allow an American Indian tribe to sell the imported drugs.
Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, said at a news conference that he was asking the federal government for permission to import prescription drugs from Canada, which several other states are also seeking. Federal officials have refused to authorize such programs, saying there is no way to guarantee the safety and efficacy of imported drugs.
Mr. Baldacci said that the state would designate the Penobscot Indian Nation as the wholesale distributor of those drugs as a way to generate income and jobs for the tribe. The Penobscots would keep the drugs in a warehouse and sell them to pharmacies in Maine, which would then sell them to consumers at lower prices.
"Our citizens continue to pay more expensive prices for prescription drugs here than what our neighbors to the north pay," Governor Baldacci said, adding,
"This is simply wrong."
The governor gave the Penobscots a $400,000 check to build a warehouse and set up a distribution program. But the governor stopped short of saying the state would import drugs without federal permission.
Trish Riley, director of the governor's office of health policy and finance, said the governor was creating a group of legislators, health insurers, consumers and others to study whether to import the drugs if federal officials tell Maine not to.
Ms. Riley said the group would most likely present its recommendations early next year. Meanwhile, she said, the Penobscot Indians would start distributing American drugs.
William K. Hubbard, an associate commissioner for policy and planning at the Food and Drug Administration, said he was not yet familiar with the Maine proposal. But he said the F.D.A. had told other states seeking to import Canadian drugs that "we don't have the authority to grant such a waiver for a city, state or county, or in this case an Indian tribe."
Mr. Hubbard added: "We do believe the drugs are illegal and unsafe. You're kind of taking the risk that the foreign pharmacy is a good guy that is giving you the drug, and maybe he is and maybe he isn't."
Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wisconsin have set up Web sites that link consumers in their states with Canadian pharmacies so consumers can buy drugs on their own. A few cities, including Springfield, Mass.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Burlington, Vt., have started programs that import Canadian drugs directly.
The F.D.A., faced with a drumbeat of pressure from proponents of importation, has not acted against these cities and states.
"We've been holding our fire in favor of trying to explain the public safety and legal concerns with these drugs and these pharmacies in other countries," Mr. Hubbard said.
|
|
