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Prescription drug bill built
on false premise, risks public health,
say representatives
Importing potentially
unsafe prescription drugs from Canada is not only risky to the health
and safety of Washingtonians, it violates federal laws, Reps.
Glenn Anderson and Jay Rodne said today.
Anderson, R-Fall City, and
Rodne, R-Snoqualmie, were speaking in response to House Bill 1194, which
would create a state-approved plan to buy prescription drugs from
Canada. Both legislators voted against the bill.
“This concept sounds
simple, but it is not,” said Anderson. “In fact, there are so many
problems with this idea that it’s difficult to know where to begin. Most
importantly, it puts the public’s health at risk, because the FDA,
Health Canada and our state’s own Health Care Authority have made it
very clear they cannot guarantee cross-border drug safety. It also
assumes that Canada will passively sit by while we attempt to buy up its
pharmaceutical supply. It will not.”
House Bill 1194 would
require state-run health care programs to allow bulk purchasing of drugs
from Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers. It would also require those
programs to encourage individuals to buy their prescription drugs from
Canadian pharmacies, and offer uniform medical plan enrollees a
financial incentive to do so. Finally, it would direct the state Health
Care Authority to develop a web site informing Washingtonians about
opportunities to purchase prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies.
Rodne voiced his concern
over the liability issues related to the bill.
“The federal government,
much less the state, cannot stand behind the safety and quality of drugs
purchased outside our country,” said Rodne. “If someone buys these drugs
through a state-approved program and becomes ill or dies, who is liable?
The taxpayers of our state. That’s a risk we just don’t need and can’t
afford.”
The measure passed the
House by a vote of 56-42. It is now with the Senate for consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
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