Prometheus 6

Imported drugs are a reality, panel is told
By Mark Sherman, Associated Press, 3/20/2004

WASHINGTON -- A government panel exploring whether prescription drugs can be safely imported got a clear answer yesterday from consumer advocates who said Americans are already doing it to cope with skyrocketing drug bills.

"It's a reality now because the United States government has failed to develop a model that assures drugs are affordable to Americans," Gail Shearer of Consumers Union said at the panel's first meeting at Food and Drug Administration headquarters in suburban Maryland.

Laurie Young of the Older Women's League said her members are angry about FDA's "refusal to make what is a common practice legal."