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Original title: The Trump administration wanted to import low-cost drugs from other countries, but was rejected by Canada.
(Observer Network News) In July this year, US President Trump signed an executive order allowing the United States to import low-cost prescription drugs from countries like Canada. However, seeing that the mandate was approaching, Trump promised to make the final offer to achieve the “reduction in the price of drugs.” Before this regulation was about to be implemented, Canada made it clear that we would not cooperate.
On November 28, Canada banned the export of a large number of prescription drugs on the grounds that the actions of the United States would cause a shortage of drugs in the country.
Reuters reported on Nov. 29 that Canada’s Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement that if certain drugs originally supplied for the Canadian market are sold overseas and cause or exacerbate the risk of these drugs Shortage, then Canada will ban the sale of these drugs abroad.
Health Canada issued a statement on November 28, stating that a series of new measures will be implemented to prevent drug shortages.It also stated in the statement that these drug companies must provide information to assess existing or potential drug shortages. And if there is a serious or imminent safety risk, the pharmaceutical company must provide this information within 24 hours.
He said drug shortages remain a major global challenge, and the new corona epidemic has exacerbated this phenomenon. Canada is still a small market in terms of drug sales, representing only about 2% of the world, of which 68% of drugs come from other countries. Therefore, Canada must “remain vigilant” to maintain the supply of drugs.
“Our health care system is a symbol of our national identity, and we are committed to upholding it. The actions we take today will help protect Canadians from access to the drugs they depend on,” Hadui concluded.
Reuters noted that Canada’s ban on drug exports came just days before the United States implemented “imported prescription drugs” regulations. This regulation in the United States will allow national licensed pharmacists or wholesalers to import certain prescription drugs for the Canadian market in bulk, and is scheduled to be implemented before December.
Back in July of last year, Trump was tasked with crafting a plan to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada at lower prices. At the time, Health Minister Aza once said that he and Trump discussed “developing a plan that involves how to import drugs from Canada safely and effectively” so that “pharmaceutical companies can reach agreements with other countries to benefit the American people. “
However, some experts in the United States doubt the feasibility of importing prescription drugs from Canada, in part because they are concerned that Canadian suppliers will not be able to meet the huge market demand in the United States; The American Institute for Drug Research and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association believe that this plan may put patients in the face of buying counterfeit drugs or the risk of adulterated drugs.
Consumer rights groups support this plan, believing it will pressure US drug manufacturers to lower drug prices; the American Association for Retired Persons says that safe imports of effective, low-priced drugs will promote price competition.
Another media interpretation claimed that Trump will reduce the price of prescription drugs as one of the campaign’s priority issues in the 2020 reelection elections and therefore intends to allow the importation of prescription drugs.
Subsequently, Trump signed four executive orders in July this year to reduce the price of prescription drugs in the United States. One of them was allowing licensed pharmacists and wholesalers to legally import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and other countries.
However, at the time, Trump’s move met a lot of resistance. The American Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Research Association said in a statement that the move “is a reckless distraction that hampers our ability to deal with the current epidemic and our ability to cope in the future.”
Brian Abrahams, biotech analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a report: “We think they may be more inclined to build momentum for the campaign than to create tangible materials. influences. “
Reuters also said that the Trump administration has made many efforts to cut drug prices in the past, including plans to force insurance companies and other health care payers to pass refunds to patients, but all have stalled due to to industry resistance.
In September this year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September that he would help other countries provide medicine if possible, but that his priority is to protect the needs of Canadians. Many Canadian drug suppliers opposed Trump’s plan, saying it could lead to shortages.
