Importing Canadian drugs called ‘good idea’

Montgomery County could save as much as $15 million a year if employees and retirees could import prescription drugs from Canada, according to a report prepared for a County Council committee and released yesterday.

“Roughly 70 percent of the employees who responded to our survey said they thought it is a good idea, and we ought to do it,” said council member Tom Perez, Tacoma Park Democrat.

Mr. Perez cited a questionnaire submitted to participants at a public forum held in February as an indication of support for the plan.

Proponents of the drug-importation proposal contend that the study answers three basic questions that will be addressed in proposed legislation slated to be introduced today.

“Is it safe? Is it legal? Is it cost-effective?” said Mr. Perez.

As many as 3 million Americans spent about $1 billion on 8 million prescriptions ordered from Canadian suppliers in 2003, Mr. Perez said.

“The cost of prescription drugs has doubled in the last six years” for the Montgomery County teachers union, he said.

Mr. Perez and other supporters of the resolution said they are prepared to look at similar programs in Springfield, Mass., and Montgomery, Ala., and a program being implemented in Boston to ensure that any plan developed for the 85,000 employees, retirees and their dependents works smoothly.

Although Congress passed legislation in 2000 calling for the creation of such plans, the Food and Drug Administration continues to discourage Americans from buying drugs from sources outside the United States.

Calls to the district office of the Food and Drug Administration in Baltimore were not returned.

The Montgomery measure would be limited to sanctioned purchases of so-called maintenance medications used for the treatment of long-term health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.

“There is no court ruling at all,” said council member Howard A. Denis, Bethesda Republican.

He said the potential savings represent significant dollars at a time when such funds are difficult to obtain.

“We’re concerned that Montgomery County residents may wind up paying for the savings with their health,” said Susan Winckler, vice president of the American Pharmacists Association.

Miss Winckler warned that formulations of many medications can differ slightly from those sold in the United States. She also warned that independent pharmacists could be driven out of business if they lose that segment of the market.