Newswise — The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) applauds the extensive analysis of a complex issue by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Task Force on Importation. The Task Force, created in the Medicare Drug Benefit law, was directed to explore how drug importation might be conducted safely and its potential impact on the health of American patients, medical costs and the development of new medications. The report reaches parallel conclusions to those reached by APhA in our position on importation, identifying areas of concern, many of which were expressed by APhA in its formal comments to the Task Force. "We appreciate the leadership of Dr. Carmona and the work of the Task Force members," says John A. Gans, PharmD, Executive Vice President of APhA. "The US medication regulatory system was established to protect patients. As recent FDA activity indicates, there is a need for those protections; prescription drugs are complicated and require comprehensive oversight. Prescription drugs are powerful, that's why they work. But a flawed product " or flawed use of a product because of excluding the involvement of the patient's pharmacist " can hurt rather than help."
"Although this issue may seem simply political to some " or a simple solution to a vexing problem " it's a serious health issue for many Americans. Our members work with patients every day who are faced with difficult decisions. Pharmacists help their patients access lower cost generic products, use available assistance, and most importantly, make the best use of their medication," said Gans.
As the medication experts on the health care team, pharmacists play a key role in helping patients and prescribers make the most of prescription medications. Legalizing importation, particularly personal drug importation, would outsource pharmacy practice. Not only would the role of the pharmacist as a dispenser of safe medications be outsourced, but the patient's pharmacist would no longer have the benefit of knowing the patient's complete medication profile. One of the primary roles of pharmacists, identifying dangerous drug-to-drug interactions, would be compromised. Our patients deserve better. They deserve quality products and quality pharmacist-provided medication therapy management services at affordable prices.
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 50,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.
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