This has led to a number of efforts by lawmakers, who know a good issue when they see one, to rein in costs. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., has sponsored a bill to allow U.S. pharmacists and distributors to import prescription drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration from Canada and other countries and sell them at affordable prices. He says drugs produced in this country are sold for a fraction of the U.S. price in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Rep. Bernard Sanders, D-Vermont, has introduced a similar bill in the House. Instead of trying to explain away the problem, though, the industry needs to become actively involved with the government in finding ways to solve the problem.
Drug makers deserve kudos for the highly effective new drugs they bring to market.
But that shiny image is being tarnished by a growing perception that many of these drugs won't be available to those who need them most because they are prohibitively priced.