|
Case
Study Importing
Medicines: Explaining Safety and Quality Concerns Situation:
The
pharmaceutical industry trade association needed help providing its members
and allies information and documents for responding to legislative proposals that
would have allowed the importation of medicines.
Actions:
Researched and wrote white papers, talking points and related materials
that explained to various stakeholder groups:
 |
The
differences between so-called “re-importation” and importation
|
|
The
safety risks to individuals importing medicines without
adequate
regulatory supervision
|
|
How
buying imported medicines disrupts a patient’s team of
healthcare
professionals, and how this can endanger the quality of care for
patients
with chronic medical problems (who frequently take multiple
medications)
since it would be very unlikely that foreign pharmacists would
consult with
local clinicians. |
|
The
fact that in 1988 Congress
created the law restricting importation of
medicines because of
documented problems with imported counterfeit
birth control pills. |
Outcome:
Industry
representatives used these documents to clearly and simply explain the safety
and quality of care concerns with importing medicines.
|
