THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: HEALTH CARE POLICY REPORT - JULY 15, 2002
Industry Says Support for Imports, Reimports Erodes Due to Safety Concerns
A drug industry lobbying group released July 8 poll findings that back up its opposition to bringing American-made drugs that have been exported back into this country, and highlighted safety concerns about such drugs.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said voters in a poll dramatically changed their opinions on prescription drug importation and reimportation when presented with possible concerns over the safety of imported drugs. Reimportation has been cited by advocates as a possible, if partial, solution to sky-rocketing prescription drug prices in the United States.
PhRMA said the poll shows that after voters are asked whether they find "reasonable concern" over safety issues, support for both the reimportation of American-made drugs and importation of foreign-made drugs drops. These issues include the quality of import storage, possible counterfeit or expired drugs, the possibility of terrorist-poisoned imports, and the capability of the Food and Drug Administration to monitor imports.
The poll shows that 60 percent of voters initially support reimportation, against 23 percent who oppose reimportation and 17 percent who expressed no opinion. After listening to the interviewer's questions, the support for reimportation fell to 41 percent, against 53 percent who oppose it and 6 percent who expressed no opinion. According to the poll, 45 percent of voters initially support the importation of foreign-made drugs, against 42 percent who oppose and 12 percent who expressed no opinion, but when asked a second time, the numbers changed to 33 percent in support, 62 percent in opposition, and 5 percent expressing no opinion.
From Canada. The poll also included questions about importing only from Canada. Although 40 percent said they were more likely to support importation if it was only from Canada, 70 percent expressed concern about "third-world" drugs shipped through Canada, and over 50 percent expressed concern over whether the Canadian regulatory system would be able to handle the volume of importation allowed.
"In this area, opinions are not particularly stable," said Whit Ayres, of Ayres, McHenry & Associates Inc., the polling company which conducted the survey. "Once voters are exposed to a fuller debate, the support collapses."
This issue has been brought up recently as both parties have attempted to draft legislation dealing with Medicare prescription drug benefit plans. Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced in April a Canada-only reimportation bill, and Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) stated in June that he expects a similar amendment to be added to the Senate's Medicare prescription drug plan.
A broader importation bill was passed by Congress in 2000, but the Department of Health and Human Services, under both the Clinton and Bush administrations, chose not to implement it, citing cost and safety concerns.
PhRMA has long been opposed to increased importation or reimportation of prescription drugs.
The late June survey consisted of 1,000 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.16 percent.
