Lawmakers Challenge FDA Commissioner for Blocking Reimported Rx Drugs

Letter

Congressman Rahm Emanuel (IL-5), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Congressman Bernard Sanders (VT-At Large) sent the following letter to Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Lester Crawford, today. The letter was prompted by reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has blocked shipments of individual prescriptions from delivery to patients from almost every state in the nation. According to press reports the seizures appear to be aimed at a well-known prescription drug supplier from Canada.

Dear Acting Commissioner Crawford:

We are writing regarding reports of seizures of important lifesaving prescriptions being undertaken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Customs in the port of Miami. Thousands of senior citizens from almost every state in the Union had ordered a supply of these critical drugs for themselves to treat chronic life threatening conditions, via a known supplier of these medicines, CanadaRX, which has a record of providing them with a safe, affordable option to the high prescription drug prices in the United States. While a review of drug imports is appropriate, we urge you to halt what appear to be targeted wholesale seizures aimed at a known supplier of safe medicines.

If it is the intention of the FDA to change its policy of permitting the import of ninety-day personal supplies then seniors and others suffering from chronic conditions need to be informed of that change immediately.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the FDA has obstructed appropriate reimportation of FDA approved prescription drugs and it is very troubling that FDA would choose to launch another "blitz" to prevent drug reimportation counter to its policy.

This is especially true in a time when national opinion is clearly running in favor of prescription drug reimportation: a majority of the House of Representatives have voted in favor of prescription drug reimportation, polls have consistently shown that more than two-thirds of Americans support importation, and recently four-fifths of Medicare recipients said they support importation and the government negotiating for lower prices. Rather than target an experienced provider at the border, we hope you will cooperate with Congress and work to find solutions to lower drug prices for seniors. Americans deserve access to safe, affordable pharmaceuticals, and this action threatens their ability to access these drugs.

Please inform us immediately of your plans to remedy this situation.

Sincerely,

Rahm Emanuel Rosa L. DeLauro Bernard Sanders
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress