Balanced Reporting About Americans Buying Meds Internationally From Online Pharmacies in the Wake of Operation Pangea
Each year, FDA participates in Pangea, a global operation that identifies and shuts down rogue Internet pharmacies, seizes allegedly dangerous medication, and arrests those responsible. We like that Pangea takes actions against rogue online pharmacies that threaten the public health. However, media stories about Pangea can frighten the American public away from safe online sources of affordable prescription medication because they often assert that foreign online pharmacies are all dangerous, which is absurd.
Thankfully, Dan Mangan of CNBC News reminded Americans last week that there are safe international online pharmacies. His article, “Patients cross borders for online deals on medication” explains that PharmacyChecker.com was created to help consumers avoid fake online pharmacies and have peace of mind when shopping for medication internationally. Lee Graczyk, head of RxRights.org, let them know why this is so important: “For some folks, this is the most viable way for them to fill their prescription at a price they can afford.”
The article points out that despite Federal restrictions, Americans purchase medication from outside the United States for personal use. Though the FDA does advise against personal drug importation (wrongly in our opinion), its enforcement is focused on large scale drug importation of medication by doctors, providers, or wholesalers, not individuals. In fact, FDA has never prosecuted anyone for importing medication for personal use. The article also brings up Maine’s recent law that removed state restrictions on personal drug importation. A similar bill was introduced in the South Carolina legislature.
Residents of these states want to facilitate drug importation to help people like Bill. As Mr. Mangan reports, Bill, a resident of New York City, was prescribed Copaxone for macular degeneration. Because Copaxone is not FDA-approved for that condition, Medicare didn’t cover it, leaving him with a ridiculously high out-of-pocket cost. At the suggestion of his doctor, Bill used a Canadian pharmacy. Instead of paying about $5,000 for a 28-day supply, he paid $1,200.
We’re happy with Mr. Mangan’s reporting, as coverage of crackdowns against dangerous pharmacy websites should include balanced information. His coverage included information collected from both supporters for and against personal drug importation and international online pharmacies, and he should be applauded for doing so.
