| In the United States today, the great majority of all pharmaceuticals
are distributed through healthcare distributors. Pharmaceutical distributors
are a vital part of the system that is charged with ensuring product
integrity and this is a responsibility that HDMA members take very
seriously. If
these drugs are not properly stored, handled, and accounted for throughout
the healthcare distribution system, the results can be troublesome
at
best, devastating at worst.
Congress recognized this when it passed the Prescription Drug Marketing
Act (PDMA) in 1988. PDMA was the result of congressional investigations,
led by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, that found that, “A significant
volume of pharmaceuticals are being imported…These goods present a
health and safety risk to American consumers because they may have
become
subpotent or adulterated during foreign handling and shipping.”
It is with these thoughts in mind that HDMA is opposed to permitting
the importation of pharmaceuticals. Importation, whether restricted
to just Canada or not, significantly increases the likelihood of counterfeit
or adulterated drugs entering the U.S. market and reaching our medicine
cabinets.
Contact
Kristen Freitas
Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs
703-885-0232
kfreitas@hdmanet.org
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