Following the passage of the comprehensive health reform bill, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer are requesting the Secretary of Health and Human Services approve a pilot project allowing North Dakota and Montana to import lower-priced prescription drugs from Canada.
 
Dorgan and Schweitzer have been long-time supporters of allowing Americans to import lower-cost FDA-approved drugs sold for a fraction of the price in foreign countries.
 
The two leaders are proposing a pilot program for Montana and North Dakota which would allow purchase of medication from Canadian pharmacies.  They say this could lower prescription drug costs for consumers by as much as 35 to 50 percent.
 
Dorgan and Schweitzer point to the authority in existing law that would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a pilot program in Montana and North Dakota to lead the way for safe drug importation for the entire country.
 
The Senator and Governor have made their proposal to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a letter asking her to certify that the importation of drugs from Canada is safe and effective.
 
“Canada has a virtually identical drug safety system for their prescription drugs, “Dorgan said.  “Therefore, allowing the importation of FDA-approved medicines from Canada by registered pharmacists, registered wholesalers, or individuals would allow for a safe, limited demonstration program that, if successful, could be expanded to provide relief to millions of Americans that are currently paying the highest prices in the world for prescription drug prices.”
 
“Americans should be able to purchase safe, effective, world-class prescription drugs for the same price everyone else in the world pays,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “We import wheat, meat, oil and pick-ups from Canada. Why not safe medicine?”
 
Dorgan and Schweitzer said the goal is to lower the price of prescription drugs in the U.S. through market competition. Giving Americans the freedom to access identical FDA-approved drugs from other countries where it is sold for a fraction of the price will make the pharmaceutical industry adopt fair pricing for American consumers.
 
Residents of Montana and North Dakota filled more than 18 million prescriptions in 2008, spending more than $1 billion.  Allowing residents of the two states to access lower-priced medication from Canada could save as much as $400 million per year.

Click here to read the Dorgan-Schweitzer letter to Secretary Sebelius (53 KB PDF)