NABP Statement on Prescription Drug Importation Proposals

Last month the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) released a ‘Statement on Prescription Drug Importation Proposals‘ reiterating its stance that prescription drug importation is not a viable solution to addressing high prescription drug costs.

The NABP statement is in response to recent policymaker proposals seeking to allow (1) the importation of prescription drugs from countries, such as Canada, where drugs are sold at cheaper prices and (2) the creation of a wholesale (bulk) purchasing programs from Canada.

Prescription drugs, including controlled substances, are heavily regulated in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). While many individuals are attracted by the lower priced drug products found outside the United States, federal law, generally speaking, prohibits the importation of these drugs into the United States unless (1) the drug was manufactured by a foreign facility registered with the FDA and the foreign version of the drug is specifically FDA approved, or (2) the drug was manufactured in the United States, is FDA approved, and is being reintroduced into the United States by the original manufacturer.

While the importation of prescription drugs may be illegal, the FDA has noted in its guidance statements that they will likely not seek enforcement actions against individual patients who are filling their own prescriptions at foreign pharmacies. However, as the NABP statement notes, patient safety remains paramount and individuals must be made aware of the risks associated with obtaining prescription medications from foreign, non FDA approved pharmacies.