Associated Press, May 5, 2005

BISMARCK, N.D. - Patients who patronize foreign pharmacies could put their health at risk by getting counterfeit drugs, and the government should not encourage the practice, former Gov. Ed Schafer says.

Instead, state and federal officials should pursue domestic programs that will push the pharmaceutical industry to cut prices, Schafer said at a news conference Thursday.

"Our seniors have built trust with their doctors and pharmacists," he said. "We can't short-circuit that trust by allowing non-verifiable medications to enter our country."

Schafer joined a spokesman for the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a group that includes pharmacists and drug manufacturers, in questioning efforts to broaden U.S. imports of lower-priced prescriptions.

Drugs from Canada aren't always a safe bet, because Internet pharmacies based north of the border may simply be passed on from different countries without proper regulation, said Peter Pitts, a Partnership for Safe Medicines spokesman.

"Licensed Canadian Internet pharmacies are getting drugs from all over the world that are not even licensed for use in Canada," he said.

Some states, including North Dakota, have set up programs that point consumers to Canadian pharmacies.

North Dakota's effort includes a Web site that gives patients options for finding lower-priced domestic generics and accessing industry discount programs. The site also includes a link to a Manitoba pharmacy.

The program is supported by Gov. John Hoeven, who also has lobbied federal officials to give North Dakotans better access to imported pharmaceuticals.

Schafer said he supports Hoeven's goal of lowering drug prices, but said some safety concerns remain with imported prescriptions. Both Schafer and Hoeven are Republicans.

"Did we in North Dakota somehow through our regulatory agencies certify these Internet pharmacies? Did the FDA certify these pharmacies?" he asked.

Duane Houdek, an attorney for Hoeven, said the Winnipeg pharmacy linked to North Dakota's program has been extensively researched and monitored to ensure proper safety controls.

"This is a bricks-and-mortar pharmacy licensed by the province of Manitoba, selling Canadian prescription drugs," Houdek said.

"If you just go on the Internet and click in and start buying drugs ... of course that's not wise," he said. "But that's not what this is."

Congress also is considering legislation that would allow U.S. consumers, pharmacies and wholesalers to purchase drugs from other countries, where prices often are lower. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is a chief sponsor of the measure.

The proposal isn't safe because it allows drug imports from too many countries, increasing the chances that bootleg medications will enter the U.S. supply, Pitts said.

But Dorgan spokesman Barry Piatt said the measure would apply only to federally approved drugs made in inspected facilities in countries with regulations similar to the United States.

"The drug industry is famous for coming out with boogie man scare stories that have no basis in truth, because they're afraid that their price gouging of the American consumer will end," Piatt said