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Americans are allowed to import many products from foreign countries. We import many high technology products such as cars, televisions, medical equipment, etc. from Europe and Japan. What then is so special about prescription drugs? Is there a fundamental difference between prescription drugs and other products that merits the unique banning of medicines from importation?

One might argue that ingesting unsafe drugs can be fatal to the consumer. It is one thing to purchase a television that malfunctions. It would be another thing altogether if one were to purchase, say, an ineffective blood pressure lowering medication. The stakes, one can argue, are higher with prescription medications and thus one should be more careful in allowing the importation of medicines.

However, this is a false argument. First, remember that many of the medical equipment are imported from abroad. Malfunctioning medical equipment can be as deadly as ineffective medicines. Yet, we seem to have no problems with importing medical equipment, nor are we burdened with undue equipment failure with its resultant loss of life.

Second, we import boat loads of cars into this country. Keep in mind that a malfunctioning car can be just as deadly as any tainted medication. We do not seem to be suffering from an epidemic of imported cars careening off our roads into ditches! If the quality of imported cars are at least as good as domestic ones, why should we assume that the quality of imported medicines would be inferior?

There are many regulatory agencies that set minimum safety standards for imported products. Imported cars, for example, possess very intricate minimum standard requirements. If a foreign manufacturer wishes to import televisions to the US, it must demonstrate that quality and safety standards are met. These same safety standards can be imposed on importers of foreign drugs. Thus, imported drugs can be made to the same safety and efficacy standards as those imposed on domestic manufacturers. So where is the problem?

Lastly, keep in mind that the controversy with the importation of medications from abroad largely stems from the importation of American made medicines from Canada. Since the Canadian government purchases medicines from American drug companies in bulk, and since the Canadian government negotiates much better prices from these companies, then the price of drugs is usually much lower in Canada compared with the prices in USA. Thus, many Americans, particularly those who live in the bordering states import these American made medications from Canada. Here, safety is not a substantial issue since the medication is manufactured in the US.

Primarily it is the American drug companies who would see their profits dwindle should Americans gain access to cheaper Canadian drug that are against the importation of medicines. This controversy is largely perpetuated by the drug companies since they have an interest in preserving their profit margins. I do not have anything against drug companies making a profit. But I would not want these companies to pretend that they are protecting American safety when in fact they are protecting their own pockets.

Learn more about this author, Mark Harmony.
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