Kidney Cancer Association endorses American Medical Association position on drug importation
Expresses concern about the authenticity of imported medicines
(PRWEB) December 10, 2004 -- The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) endorses the
American Medical Association's (AMA) vote this week to support the importation
of prescription drugs by wholesalers and pharmacies when certain conditions are
met to ensure patient safety. In addition, the KCA is pleased with the AMA's
vote to place patient safety issues at a high and visible level of importance.
The KCA shares concerns over, as stated in the AMA report, of the
“authenticity and quality of prescription drugs, already available in the U.S.,
that have been purchased by U.S. citizens in Mexico and from other
foreign...sites." The AMA also raised concerns about Canadian Internet
pharmacies being recommended by the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, stating
that these pharmacies have posed patient safety problems, through practices
including the use of unsupervised technicians to fill prescriptions; the failure
to properly label drugs or to refrigerate drugs that require refrigeration; and
by selling products not authorized by the state programs. Patients must be
protected from unapproved drugs that could be unsafe, expired, counterfeit,
adulterated, misbranded or inappropriately labeled.
The KCA has
previously expressed its reservations concerning a risky Internet drug
importation scheme promoted by the State of Illinois, because of its inability
to provide appropriate safeguards assuring purity of products and adequate
protection for the consumer.
"Kidney cancer is a life-threatening disease
that primarily affects older adults who also suffer from the many infirmities
that come with the aging process," William P. Bro, the Association’s CEO
said.
“We too, are opposed to personal importation via the Internet until
safety can be guaranteed and we commend the AMA for taking such a conspicuous
stand. Patient safety should be paramount in the importation issue - all cancer
patients need and deserve to receive prescription drugs that are not tainted or
counterfeit.”
The Kidney Cancer Association is an Illinois-based
nonprofit organization that represents more than 64-thousand constituents in the
U.S. and 90 other countries.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/12/prweb187107.htm