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>Boston mayor vows to move ahead on drug imports > >------------------------------------------------------- >------------------------- > >(Adds FDA comments paragraphs 6, 9-11) > >By Lisa Richwine > >WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The city of Boston will >start importing cheaper prescription medicines from >Canada on July 1, 2004, even if U.S. regulators refuse >to approve the plan, the city's mayor vowed on >Thursday. > >The Food and Drug Administration repeatedly has warned >that importing medicines from other countries is >illegal and unsafe. > >After meeting with FDA officials, Boston Mayor Thomas >Menino said he was not persuaded to abandon the plan. >He said he hoped to convince the FDA to work with him >on a program the agency could endorse, but would >proceed regardless. > >"If I do not get a plan in place by the federal Food >and Drug Administration by July 1, I will start >implementing my drug program," Menino told reporters. > >Boston is one of several U.S. cities and states >interested in buying cheaper medicines from Canada to >help ease rising health-care costs. > >The FDA has been fighting drug imports, saying it must >protect the public from medicines that could be >counterfeit, contaminated or subpotent. > >Menino argued the federal government has authority >under the recently enacted Medicare law to certify >state importation programs, as well as a >responsibility to help Americans obtain safe, >affordable medicines. > >"What I see is bureaucrats saying 'we can't do it.' >I'm saying 'we can do it.' It takes some creativity," >Menino said. > >Tom McGinnis, the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs, >said officials told Menino "The Medicare provisions >did not change the law. It's still illegal to bring >medicines into the United States." > >The FDA has not ruled out legal action against state >and local governments that implement importation plans. > >Asked if the FDA would sue the city of Boston, >McGinnis said: "It depends what their final plan is." > >Menino said he plans for a voluntary system in which >city employees and retirees could purchase medicines >via mail-order from distributors certified by Canadian >authorities, which would help ensure safety. The >program would not permit buying from Internet >pharmacies. > >The plan should save the city between $1 million and >$2 million in annual drug costs, Menino said. > >FDA officials and the mayor agreed to meet again in 60 >days for further discussions, Menino said. > >Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy said he >supported the mayor's plan and accused the Bush >administration with opposing the idea to protect drug >makers' profits, a charge FDA officials deny. > >"This issue is not about the safety of prescription >drugs. The administration is worried about the >prescription drug industry," Kennedy said.

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