13 of 46

Yes

Write now Article Tools

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Discourages Americans From Personal Importation of Prescription Medications From Foreign Countries.

In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry is one that is highly regulated to the benefit and safeguard of the American public. Congress in its safeguarding effort has enacted several laws empowering federal, state and local agencies to control pharmaceuticals ensuring quality of regulated products and the

detention of illicit illegal drugs. As there are numerous laws that deal with pharmaceuticals, Americans have to remember that there are several reasons why we should not purchase safe and affordable prescription drugs from other nations .

In America, there are numerous levels of quality assurance of pharmaceuticals, aside from and after approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Prescription medications manufactured in other nations that claim and purport to be identical to prescription medications approved by the FDA are actually of unknown quality, as testified by FDA to Congress, which poses EW56Bhttp://www.fda.gov/NewsEv ents/Testimony/ucm161056.htmWH 6PDZ6EFPserious safety concerns to American consumers. The FDA cannot assure Americans that the prescription medication they purchase from foreign nations is the medication that is approved by the FDA.

The efforts of several federal agencies, including the FDA and Customs and Border Patrol, have resulted in the following findings which were published in a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) :

Foreign pharmaceuticals may distribute prescription drugs that have expired, are less effective or possibly contaminated, or are counterfeit. In addition, labeling of the prescription medication may not be as descriptive as labeling requirements are in the United States, such as dosing amounts, directions for use, as well as whether exist any contraindications.

With respect to the manufacturing of the pharmaceuticals, in foreign nations there is no way to ensure that such pharmaceuticals have been packaged and stored under adequate conditions to avoid degradation, nor is there any assurance that they were manufactured using good manufacturing practice guidelines.

Aside from the laws and regulations that govern the manufacturing and sale of pharmaceuticals in the United States, there are also laws that govern Americans concerning our purchase of prescription medications, although restrictions have eased. In times past, the laws that governed purchasing prescription medications and personal importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries was filled with gray matter. However, the sky-rocketing cost of medication within the United States has pressured the government to allow Americans to order from other countries if such medication is approved by the FDA and is clearly for personal use. The FDA, however, continues to discourage personal importation of prescription medications from foreign countries as previously stated, the overall, integrity of the medication cannot be guaranteed.

Learn more about this author, John Huetteman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should Americans be allowed to import and purchase safe and affordable prescription drugs from other nations??
We want to hear your view. Write now!