Partnership for Safe Medicines Statement on Pres. Biden’s Remarks on Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

Washington, D.C. (August 12, 2021) – Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, released the following statement in response to President Biden’s remarks, discussing his Administration’s attempts to lower healthcare costs for Americans:

“By focusing on drug importation as a part of his effort to lower the cost of medicines, President Biden ignores the dangers this policy poses to Americans.

“The President specifically cited savings the state of Colorado anticipates from its drug importation plan. As PSM noted in its recent analysis of the Colorado Drug Importation Plan, the state proposes to import certain brand name medicines despite the availability of cheaper generic versions.”

“The U.S. drug supply chain has been carefully designed with protections to keep fake and adulterated medicines out. Allowing importation from Canada by states and tribes undermines that trusted system.

“While other states are also considering developing Canadian importation programs, the Canadian government, Canadian wholesalers, and Canadian healthcare professionals and patients have expressed their own concerns about safety and access, as their already limited drug supply would be dwarfed by the number of Americans who might begin seeking imported medications.

“We agree with the goal of lower drug costs for Americans, but importing drugs from outside the U.S. is not a solution.”

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