Oncology Managers of Florida Urges Policymakers to Oppose Drug Importation Proposals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With out-of-pocket costs rising for patients, policymakers at the state and federal level are focused on finding solutions to lower costs. The Oncology Managers of Florida, a statewide professional organization committed to providing information and educational support as well as implementing changes in medical policies and governmental issues for oncology practice managers in Florida, urges policymakers to oppose drug importation proposals that could put Floridians at risk.

"If we rush to resolve our long-standing issues of the rising out-of-pocket costs by importing drugs both from Canada and abroad, we are placing all Floridians at risk," said Michelle Flowers, President of the Oncology Managers of Florida. "There are several other proposals being discussed, such as ensuring the billions of dollars in rebates are seen in direct out-of-pocket costs by the patient at the pharmacy counter."

In the past four years, Florida oncologists have been prosecuted in Federal courts for purchasing black market and/or counterfeit medications for use in their practice and placing their patients' lives at risk. Florida has had issues with counterfeit/adulterated medications since the mid-1990s. During that time, oncologists purchased the drug Procrit, used to stimulate the growth of red blood cells for use in patients receiving chemotherapy, from a wholesale distributer to later discover certain lots of the medication had been tampered with prior to reaching the distribution network, and posed serious risks to their patients.

The FDA is responsible for ensuring that food, drugs, biological products, and medical devices are effective and safe for public consumption. They prohibit any drug from being introduced or delivered into interstate commerce unless approved by the FDA. The supply or distribution chain allows numerous opportunities for drugs to become mishandled or adulterated, whether in the United States or abroad.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, MD, who recently stepped down as Director of the FDA, shared on social media that he has "seen too many cases where intermediaries purporting to import Canadian drugs really source drugs from unreliable parties and counterfeiters. Just because they say a drug is from a physical Canadian pharmacy, too often that's false advertising." This sentiment is shared by the federal Health and Human Services as well, with no Secretary ever supporting an importation proposal.

In a recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal, the Editorial Board indicated that the importation proposal was "impractical, unsafe and unlikely to reduce prices at the pharmacy." The editorial continues on the ramifications of this proposal, "This is a dangerous moment for the world's most productive and dynamic market for medicine."

About the Oncology Managers of Florida: The Oncology Managers of Florida is a statewide professional organization committed to providing information and educational support as well as implementing changes in medical policies and governmental issues for oncology practice managers in Florida. Learn more by visiting www.omflorida.org.

SOURCE Oncology Managers of Florida