The promise of inexpensive prescription drugs has lured many abroad to fill their prescriptions. Whether purchasing online, through a mail-order pharmacy or traveling by car, everyone from those on a fixed income to those looking for a great deal often head to Canada, Mexico and elsewhere to save on prescription medication costs. While the savings can indeed be great, importing prescription drugs from other countries is not without risk. The risks associated with bringing in prescription medications from abroad must be carefully weighed against the potential cost savings when making any decision.
A Savings Windfall
Many looking for relief from the growing burden of growing health care costs and a challenging economy will take savings wherever they can get it, and saving on prescription medications is a viable option for many. Because many governments impose price restrictions on certain prescription medications, a brand-name drug can cost considerably less than it would be in the U.S. A prescription drug sold in Toronto can cost more than 50-percent less than across the border in Rochester, New York, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide article titled "Importing Prescription Drugs."
The Law
Although U.S. law is confusing and revised legislation is murky, it is still considered illegal in most cases to import prescription medications into the U.S. According to "The Letter (and Spirit) of Drug Import Laws" by Medicinenet.com, customs agents and the FDA are well aware of this practice yet choose to turn their heads the other way.
Those who choose to purchase drugs from foreign countries, therefore, must be willing to break a law for which there will likely be no legal consequences.
Safety Concerns
Medications imported from foreign countries are not subject to FDA oversight and monitoring. Strict quality controls designed to protect consumers around packaging, labeling, storing, dispensing and manufacturing are not necessarily in place in other countries. The potential exists, therefore, for dangerous drug interactions or side effects due to drug contamination, inadequate treatment due to counterfeit or even inert ingredients.
Patients who experience problems with foreign medications have no legal recourse since the manufacturers are not subject to FDA rules.
