Partnership for Safe Medicines Condemns the Weakening of the U.S. Drug Supply through Canadian Drug Importation + Full coverage of decision
Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s final decision to approve Florida’s Canadian drug importation plan.
“The United States government’s decision to approve Florida’s Canadian drug importation plan weakens our nation’s safe drug supply, putting American patients at risk. This decision breaks our closed loop system and opens the door to counterfeiters and others who will be more than happy to meet demand. By design, Florida’s plan puts our most vulnerable patient communities – such as people living with HIV – at risk.”
PSM continues to track importation proposals across the country and works to educate patients and policymakers about the risks of purchasing medicines from online pharmacies. For more information and to find resources about counterfeit drugs and more, visit safemedicines.org or contact editors@safemedicines.org.
Official documents
From the FDA: Approval letter to Florida authorizing their SIP application [PDF], Press release regarding approval, FDA information page on Section 804 programs
From Florida: Nov 20, 2023 SIP application that was approved [PDF not available yet].
Statements from stakeholders
- American Pharmacists Association and 75 pharmacy organizations: Pharmacy organizations raise concerns about Florida's drug importation plan
- The Government of Canada: Statement from Health Canada on FDA decision on Florida bulk drug importation plan 1/8/2024
- Canadian Pharmacists Association: Canadian Pharmacists Association expresses concern with US drug importation development 1/5/2024
- American Pharmacists Association: FDA's Decision on Florida's importation program jeopardizes patient safety 1/8/2024
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists: ASHP Weighs in on FDA Decision to Allow Medication Imports from Canada 1/8/2024
- PhRMA Statement: PhRMA Statement on FDA Authorizing Florida’s Importation Plan
- ADAP Advocacy: ADAP Advocacy Blasts FDA on Florida's Drug Importation Approval
- American Action Forum: The Empty Promise -- Importing Canadian Drugs
- Canadian Cancer Survivor Network: Can/Will USA "pillage" the supply of prescription drugs for Canadians? [recorded webinar, registration required]
Media coverage and Op-eds
- The Hill: Canadian drugs can’t soothe America’s healthcare pains
- Medscape: Canadians, Pharmacists Skeptical of Florida Drug-Import Plan
- Bloomberg Editorial Board: Florida Wants to Import Prescription Drugs. Good Luck.
- CBC: Federal health minister says he won't allow Florida to 'pillage' the drug supply
- NYT: FDA Issues First Approval for Mass Drug Imports to States From Canada
- Forbes: FDA Allows First-Ever Canadian Drug Imports To U.S., Report Says
- Daily Mail: FDA grants Florida permission to be first state to import less expensive drugs from Canada
- Wall Street Journal: Florida Will Be Allowed to Import Prescription Drugs from Canada
- Bloomberg Law: Biden FDA Approves Florida’s Plan to Import Drugs From Canada
- Reuters: US FDA to allow Florida to import cheaper drugs from Canada
- Sierra Sun Times: FDA Authorizes Florida’s Drug Importation Program from Canada
- Washington Examiner: FDA issues approval for DeSantis plan for Florida to import prescription drugs from Canada
- The Capitolist: Report: FDA approves Florida’s drug importation plan
- Seeking Alpha: Florida to become first state to win FDA nod for mass drug imports from Canada: NYT
- Yahoo Finance: US FDA to allow Florida to import cheaper drugs from Canada
- Bloomberg: Florida Plan to Import Cheaper Prescription Drugs From Canada Gets FDA Approval
- Washington Post: FDA to allow Florida to import prescription drugs from Canada
- Market Watch: FDA authorizes Florida drug importation program as first step toward bringing in cheaper prescription drugs from Canada
- The Hill: Florida gets first-ever approval to import drugs from Canada
- CBS News: FDA authorizes first bulk pharmaceutical imports from Canada
- Sun Sentinel: FDA authorizes Florida drug imports from Canada
- CNN: FDA approves first state request to import drugs from Canada
- NBC 6 South Florida: Florida can import prescription drugs from Canada in first-in-the-nation plan: FDA
- Washington Times: Florida gets OK to import drugs from Canada
- Politico: Florida gets FDA approval for Canadian drug importation plan
- WFSU: The FDA has approved Florida's drug importation plan
- Associated Press: Florida can import prescription drugs from Canada, US regulators say
- NPR: FDA approves Florida's plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada
- HCP Live: FDA Authorizes Program Allowing Import of Prescription Drugs from Canada
- Axios: FDA for the first time approves plan to import drugs
- Orlando Sentinel: FDA approves Florida plan to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada
- Financial Times: US regulator approves Florida bid to import medicines from Canada
- Fox News: FDA will allow Florida to import prescription drugs from Canada
- Tampa Bay Times: US regulators OK Florida importing prescription drugs from Canada
- The Guardian: FDA approves program to allow Florida to import Canadian prescription drugs
- Roll Call: FDA greenlights Florida’s drug importation plan
- ABC News: Florida can import prescription drugs from Canada, US regulators say
- Florida Politics: Feds give 2-year approval to Florida’s Canadian prescription drug importation plan
- WIOD News Radio: FDA Allows Florida to Import Cheaper Drugs
- Yahoo News Canada: U.S. allowing Florida to import drugs from Canada, reviving fears of shortages
- NBC News: FDA to allow Florida to import prescription drugs in bulk from Canada
- CNBC: Florida wins first FDA approval to import cheaper drugs from Canada
- NY Post: Florida gets FDA approval to import prescription drugs from Canada in seismic policy shift
- Prince Albert Now: F.D.A. move to allow Canadian drugs to be exported to U.S. creates shortage fears
- BBC: FDA approves Florida's request to import cheaper drugs from Canada
- NewsNation: FDA approves Florida program to import prescription drugs from Canada
- US News: FDA Gives Florida OK to Import Cheaper Drugs From Canada
- STAT: Biden’s FDA is letting Ron DeSantis import cheaper drugs from Canada. Who gets to take credit?
- Endpoints News: Drug pricing experts skeptical that Florida's drug import plan will work
- Politico: The FDA just cleared the way for drug importation. What now?
- FiercePharma: FDA's authorization of Florida drug importation plan draws heat from US, Canadian trade groups
- West Orlando News: FDA Authorizes Florida’s Prescription Drug Importation Program
- Fortune: US regulators approve Florida’s DeSantis-backed plan to import prescription drugs from Canada
- Pharmaceutical Technology: FDA allows Florida to import medicines from Canada
- AARP: FDA Allows Florida to Import Prescription Drugs From Canada
- BioSpace: FDA Gives the OK for Florida to Import Drugs from Canada
- ArsTechnica: Canada vows to defend its drug supply against Florida importation plan
- The Hill Times: FDA approval may spell trouble for Canadian patients