American Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores urge Trump to reject drug importation proposals

On June 1, 2017, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), which represents 64,000 pharmacy professionals, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), which represents more than 100 national and regional pharmacy chains,  sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to support legislation that would allow broad personal and commercial importation of non-FDA approved prescription drugs.

Both organizations believe that importing non-FDA approved drugs would undercut track and trace improvements set into motion by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, increase the risk of counterfeit drugs reaching American patients, and make it more difficult for U.S. health care providers to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment which may be affected by non-FDA approved drugs.

“…we support current efforts to improve patient access to affordable and safe medications, including FDA’s ongoing implementation of the DSCSA. However, we urge you not to support any effort in Congress to allow for personal or commercial drug importation, and we ask that HHS not to grant any drug importation waivers. The risk of foreign counterfeit drugs is too high, and the consequences for United States consumers are too deadly. We look forward to continuing to work with FDA to implement the DSCSA and help consumers access drugs products through the existing supply chain.”

Read the entire letter here.