Caledonia Argus

Pawlentyís plan would allow RX drug imports from Canada

Posted: 10/21/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The State of Minnesota will help import Canadian prescription drugs under a proposal presented by Gov. Pawlenty.

The plan calls for the creation of a website listing Canadian pharmacies meeting state safety criteria ó state officials will negotiate prescription drug prices.

Brokers, acting on the behalf of the state, could also purchase prescription drugs for the state, Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty proposes providing incentives to state workers ó perhaps the waiver of co-pays ó who purchase prescription drugs through the online service.

He is ìcautiously optimisticî about the legality of his proposal.

Pawlenty refused to place a timeline on the drug importation initiative.

Attorney General Mike Hatch earlier had legally opined favorably about it.

In a written statement, Hatch styled Pawlentyís proposal as moving in the right direction.

ìThe governor is offering a viable approach to help the citizens of Minnesota and my office is committed to working with the administration to help develop the plan,î said Hatch.

But other voices ó Republican voices ó were less supportive.

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-MN, warned against raising expectations.

The Food and Drug Administration is not going to support the proposal, said Coleman, speaking from Washington.

"This proposal is bizarre,î said David Strom, legislative director and vice president of the conservative Taxpayers League.

ìIt ignores the dangers posed by prescription drug re-importation-or simply wishes them away,î he said.

In a written statement, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America warned that state importation proposals undermine federal law existing to protect patients against illegal, contaminated or counterfeit drugs.

Minnesota maybe the first state to propose importing Canadian prescription drugs.

Itís an ìimperfect solution for a long-term problem,î said Pawlenty.

Still, having the states involved in the prescription drug debate serves as an ìaccelerant for change,î he said.

One prong of the initiative is to encourage U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson ó a former Wisconsin governor known for human service reform ó to eliminate federal barriers for the importation of drugs at the state level.

Pawlenty proposes to hold a governorís summit by yearís end to discuss the prescription drug issue.

He blamed no one for the high cost of prescription drugs ó the system has been unresponsive to a problem that has reached a ìcrisis point,î said Pawlenty.

Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, a member of the House health and human services finance committee, in general approves of Pawlenty's drug importation initiative.

ìSome of the (drug) manufacturersí profits are disrespectful to the people they serve,î said Abeler.

Abeler doesnít believe drug importation would result in less research and development by the drug companies.

The governorís proposal will find a favorable reception in the Legislature, said Abeler.

Rep. Tim Wilkin, R-Eagan, a member of the House health and human services policy committee, is intrigued by Pawlentyís proposal and will study it.

ìIím wondering if the spread of importation by the states will break the back of the Canadian pricing scam,î said Wilkin, explaining one reason Americans pay more for prescription drugs is because of price control policies in other countries.

If the ìscamî is broken, thatís to the good, he said.

ìThey certainly donít provide a sympathetic portrait,î said Wilkin of drug manufacturers.

Still, if theyíre pushed and pushed it could curb research and development.

The new drugs people are waiting for wonít appear, he said.

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