There is hope coming for prescription consumers

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service


Today in a press conference held by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) an announcement was made about the introduction of  a drug importation legislation that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs in the United States.  The “Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act” the Senators stated will bring consumers immediate relief and will force the pharmaceutical industry to lower drug prices in the United States.

The bill, which is the same as last year’s proposal by President Obama, will allow U.S. drug wholesalers and licensed pharmacies to import FDA-approved medications from Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Japan. The costs in these countries, which are 35 to 55 percent lower than in the U.S. will allow Americans to benefit from these prices also. The legislation only applies to FDA-approved prescription drugs produced in FDA-approved plants from countries with the same safety standards. 

At the conference Senator Dorgan pointed out a comparison between the drug Lipitor that is made in Ireland which gets distributed to both Canada and the United States. “I have in fact two bottles here, the only difference is in color, one is red and one is blue...The only difference is the U.S. consumer gets to pay more than twice as much for the identical pill put in the same bottle. That’s unfair we believe.”

Senator Stabenow stated “This is not like buying a pair of shoes or buying some other commodity when you cant get your medicine, it literally is life threatening so this is a very serious issue for people and we can make a dramatic difference by passing this legislation.”

Senator Dorgan said that he is confident that President Obama and his administration will support this bill because Obama introduced the exact piece of legislation last year. “He and his chief of staff co-sponsored this identical bill...You would expect a President that signed up as a member of senate for this identical bill to support it as he already has done in his budget message.” Dorgan concluded. 

House Majority Leader Hoyer optimistic about party unity

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer held his weekly pen and pad briefing today, calling this morning a “historic morning,” following last night’s victory by Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) over his democratic presidential nominee opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Hoyer discussed the news of Obama’s presumptive nomination along with the schedule for the week ahead. Hoyer said he anticipates the Democrats still being able to achieve “party unity” despite talk of a divided Democratic party.

Hoyer, when asked if he endorses Senator Obama for the presidency, said he “supports” the Senator. and is unequivocally optimistic for party unity. He said that both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have broad support so they will cooperate closely in the future. Hoyer said that he hopes for the party’s focus to now turn to defeating Senator John McCain (R-Azl) in November and changing the nation’s direction.

On House issues, Hoyer mentioned that he hopes the House can pass a revised Foreign Intelligence Security Act (FISA) bill and an improved war-veteran benefit bill by the end of the week.