In the U.S., prescription drug costs are increasing considerably, and this issue continues to be a hot topic, particularly in the political arena. The importation of drugs into America became a possible strategy for addressing the problem of high prescription drug prices. Still, there are those people who disagree with this way of solving the issue. The purpose f this paper is to discuss several benefits supporting the necessity of drug importation into the U.S.
To begin with, it is necessary to mention that there is evidence proving that this measure is working successfully. Since not all people can afford insurance or expensive drugs, they need to be given another opportunity (Robotti, 2017). Importation seems to be an excellent option: a person finds a licensed and dependable website and orders the necessary medications (Robotti, 2017). Practice shows that it appears to be much cheaper than buying the same items in U.S. pharmacies. Some people say that ordering online from another country may be risky, and one can get tainted or counterfeit drugs (Robotti, 2017). However, it is always evident from the website’s appearance whether it is reputable and trustworthy or not; teaching people the basics of distinguishing between licensed and undependable sites is a good option.
There is another crucial benefit of such a practice that cannot be ignored. Researchers note that “currently, at least 40 percent of the prescription drugs used in the U.S. are manufactured abroad and considered safe” (Horvath, 2019, para. 4). Thus, there is a strong connection between the safety of U.S. citizens and the importation of medications. If drug import is lawful and legal, people do not have to break the law and try to get them from other countries, risking getting tainted or counterfeit drugs (Horvath, 2019). Therefore, allowing the importation will keep the U.S. citizens healthy and safe.
References
Horvath, J. (2019). States are using drug importation to lower costs and provide safe access to drugs. The Commonwealth Fund.
Robotti, S. (2017). Drug importation from other countries will save dollars and lives. The Hill.