Seniors To Rally Outside Pfizer’s Headquarters To Protest Company’s Stance on Prescription Drug Reimportation
Senior federations on Thursday will "ratchet up" their "Pfix Pfizer" campaign to help convince the company to resume supplies to Canadian pharmacies that sell Pfizer products to U.S. consumers, Long Island Newsday reports (Barfield Berry, Long Island Newsday, 4/19). The campaign, launched by the Minnesota Senior Federation, asks consumers to boycott over-the-counter Pfizer products, such as Rolaids antacid and Sudafed cold medication. In January, Pfizer sent a letter to Canadian pharmacies that outlined a new company policy, under which the pharmacies must obtain authorization from Pfizer to conduct business with prescription drug wholesalers approved by the company; Pfizer will only provide authorization to pharmacies that promise not to sell company products to U.S. residents. The letter stated, "This includes not selling, transferring or distributing products to any person that you know, or have reasonable grounds for believing, will or may export Pfizer products out of Canada. Any breach of the terms of this letter will result in Pfizer refusing all further sales to you" (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/13). According to Newsday, the action by Pfizer and similar action by Eli Lilly "has nearly depleted their drug supplies" in Canada. As part of the Pfix Pfizer campaign, a number of seniors will hold rallies outside Pfizer headquarters in New York City and at an annual company shareholders meeting in St. Louis. In addition, the Alliance for Retired Americans has called for members to write letters to Pfizer and lawmakers. "We're trying to change Pfizer's pricing policy," Lani Sanjek, associate director of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, said, adding, "They shouldn't be hurting Americans who have turned to Canadian sources. They shouldn't be cutting them off from access to affordable medications." Lee Graczyk, issues director for the Minnesota Senior Federation, said, "Our concern is that if (Pfizer is) successful, others will follow suit," adding, "We believe that Americans should be able to import not only from Canada but other European nations. Their safety standards are equal to ours." Officials for Pfizer did not comment on the campaign (Long Island Newsday, 4/19).
CQ Weekly Examines Reimportation Issue
CQ Weekly on Saturday examined the increased number of congressional Republicans who are "gradually embracing proposals" to allow reimportation of medications from other nations because of "persistent consumer complaints about drug costs" in an election year and concerns about the new Medicare prescription drug discount card program (Schuler, CQ Weekly, 4/17). Under the new Medicare law, beneficiaries who do not have prescription drug coverage through Medicaid can participate in the discount card program. Federal officials estimate that the discount cards could save beneficiaries about 10% to 25% on prescription drug costs until the new prescription drug benefit takes effect in 2006. Companies that offer the discount cards can charge an annual enrollment fee of as much as $30 and likely will offer savings on at least one medication in each of 209 classes of treatments commonly used by Medicare beneficiaries. HHS last month approved 28 private companies to offer 49 different discount cards to Medicare beneficiaries (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/14). "If it turns out to be chaotic and confusing and participation is limited, you might see reimportation getting off the runway in September," Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute, said. In addition, congressional Republicans might support reimportation legislation "if polls start to favor Democrats this fall," according to CQ Weekly. However, CQ Weekly reports that in the event the Medicare discount cards "have a smooth debut and attract a large number of beneficiaries, pressure could be off" congressional Republicans to take more action to reduce prescription drug prices this year. Joseph Antos, a health care scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said, "If it is a public relations success, then I think" the reimportation issue "loses its steam," adding, "Republicans can say 'look what we did, it worked'" (CQ Weekly, 4/17).