Maine sued by Big Pharma because it won’t stop foreign drug imports

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/09/maine-sued-by-big-pharma-because-it-wont-stop-foreign-drug-imports/



Maine sued by Big Pharma because it won’t stop foreign drug imports
By George Chidi
Saturday, November 9, 2013 22:06 EST

The pharmacies suing Maine to keep people from importing Canadian mail-order drugs carefully avoid using the word “profits” in their lawsuit. Big Pharma notes that some of its members have been injured, but no specific claim of damage is made.

Instead the complaint argues that Maine’s new law explicitly authorizing pharmacies in Canada to export to Maine businesses and residents violates the U.S. constitution and federal law, and skirts domestic medicine regulations, “circumventing the carefully-constructed closed federal regulatory structure governing prescription drugs and thus posing serious health risks to consumers.”

The plaintiffs — Maine pharmacists Charles Ouellette and Amelia Arnold, the Maine Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Retail Association of Maine, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA — want to stop Maine’s new Importation Law, which won approval in June and took effect in October. The law allows licensed retail pharmacies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom to export prescription medicines by mail to Maine residents for personal use.

Maine’s response argues that the state has no obligation to regulate pharmacies there if it chooses not to. “Maine is free to choose not to regulate the conduct of pharmacies located in other countries – even if those pharmacies may engage in conduct that violates the FDCA,” Maine’s attorney general Janet Mills answered in filings defending the law in federal court.

[jtuck004]

1. If 49 other states thought as much of their citizens as Maine does, there would be a little less

inequality and thievery fostered by big pharma.

And if they don't like it, they are free to set up shop somewhere else. Venezuela has a winner of a business plan for them, I hear.

[easychoice]

2. find a pharmacy in Mexico.Call them,You will be totally shocked.

$1.67 usd Mexico,$34.00 usd Seattle. And that's just one.

[tecelote]

6. Our ex-mayor still takes a busload of seniors to Mexico once a month for meds.

Plus, a lot of people drive down for dental procedures that are 25% of the cost on this side of the border.

[easychoice]

7. Dental? How's about $7700.00 Seattle,$600.00 Mexico.

Advair $240 Seattle,$25 Mexico. It has been a couple of years but still, what total theft.I go back in March.

[fasttense]

3. Seems American pharmacy corporations are Afraid of little competition. n/t

[dotymed]

4. In REALITY...

Most of the Canadian Drugs are imported from the U.S.. Canada bargains for low prices from the pharma here. "Our" congress will not allow Americans to bargain and get the best prices so Americans can afford their meds.

It is one of the big reasons why America's health care is ranked so low internationally.
"Our" government purposefully allows big pharma to gouge Americans. I wonder why

[unhappycamper]

5. Here's why:

[annabanana]

8. pfft... So much for "free market principles"

collusion and monopoly . . .. that's the name of the game.

[riverbendviewgal]

9. canadians get lower drug costs

Because our government negotiates with the pharms for low drug costs. Health is not for profit here. Harper would like it to be.

[mtasselin]

10. competition

I thought capitalism was built on competition, or is it only capitalism when it benefits them. With all the debt ceiling talk and that is all it is is talk, if they truly wanted to balance the budget they would make Big Pharma compete for the business.

[bemildred]

13. Capitalists hate competition and they love monopoly. Just look around.

This is exactly about stifling competition and enforcing extortionate pricing.

[Laelth]

11. Maine is doing the right thing.

I hope the state wins.



-Laelth

[dotymed]

12. Not very long ago,

many states did this. "Our" government strong-armed them, for the benefit of big pharma, so the huge profits could be maintained and the kick-backs keep flowing.

[Laelth]

14. Quite true. n/t

-Laelth

[Demeter]

15. I fail to see any constitutional violations by Maine

However, the pharmacies are on shaky ground....

[dotymed]

16. Big pharma

did not even exist during that time. No amendments have been made for them, yet.