Florida Gov. DeSantis' Canadian drug import plan goes nowhere after FDA approval

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

November 20, 2024 / 5:00 AM EST


Nearly a year after the Biden administration gave Florida the green light to become the first state to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada — a longtime goal of politicians across the political spectrum, including President-elect Donald Trump — the program has yet to begin. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hailed the FDA's approval of his plan in January, calling it a victory over the drug industry, which opposes importation on the grounds that it would lead to a surge in counterfeit medications.

A Florida health official familiar with the importation program told KFF Health News there was no planned date yet for the state to begin importing drugs. The official asked not to be identified because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the program. Florida applied to create an importation program in November 2020, just months after the Trump administration gave states the option.

DeSantis, a Republican, complained publicly for years about the pace of the federal approval process under the Biden administration and in 2022 filed suit against the FDA for what he called a "reckless delay." Trump touted his administration's move to bring medicines over the border in a preelection interview published last month by AARP, the advocacy group for older Americans, which supports allowing Americans to buy drugs from Canada. He vowed to "continue my efforts to protect Americans from unaffordable drug prices" in a second term.

It's not clear whether his second administration will or can do more to help Florida and other states set up programs, because it's ultimately up to the states to act. Colorado is the only other state that has an importation plan pending with the FDA.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-desantis-fda-canadian-drug-imports/

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Another "fake initiative" for talking points.

[Omnipresent]

1. Won't the added demand cause drug prices to rise in Canada too?

Seems to me, we need to start stomping the shit out of pharmaceutical industry here in the good ole US!

[tanyev]

3. Yes. A country of 330 million people getting their meds

from a country of 40 million people is not a long term solution for anyone.

[patphil]

2. High prescription prices in the US are used to pay for the R&D of new drugs made by US companies.

The patent laws allow for long periods of protection, so big profits are assured way past the point of recouping the cost of R&D.
In reality, all that money allows these drug companies to expand their markets outside the US with reduced prices. We act as a backstop for their profit margins, while other countries reap the benefits of lower drug costs.
When a drug becomes available as a generic, the innovator tweaks the formula or delivery method to allow a new patent to be issued. It's all part of the profit game.
The US customer pays the price.

[phxjurist]

4. It was only the concept of a plan.