We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
In light of mounting concerns over the cost and availability of prescription drugs in the U.S., government officials and the pharmaceutical industry are facing intense pressure on the drug importation front. The spotlight on importation has grown particularly bright in recent months, as there has been a strong movement by American consumers, as well as states and municipalities, to use Canadian internet pharmacies to fill their Rx drug needs. Advocates for the pharmaceutical industry have argued that importation isn’t the answer to affordability and accessibility concerns and will only leave the U.S. more vulnerable to safety and counterfeiting dangers. Many state and local governments, meanwhile, are aggressively pursuing importation plans to provide residents with easier access to low-cost Canadian drugs much to the dismay and opposition of federal officials and the U.S. drug industry. On the other side of the border, Canadian drug suppliers and pharmacies have started expressing concerns about the Canadian drug supply, arguing that the increase in prescription orders from the U.S., combined with increasingly tight supply restrictions being imposed by some pharmaceutical companies’ supply policies will prevent Canadian demand from being met. These concerns have brought forward the HHS Drug Importation Task force, chaired by U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, to explore how drug importation might be conducted safely and its potential impact on the health of American patients, medical costs and the drug development pipeline.