Government plans to allow imports of some drugs

The Trump administration said Wednesday that it would move forward with plans to allow states to safely import prescription drugs from Canada, for the first time.

The decision is unusual for a Republican administration. Progressives have long supported such a policy, but the pharmaceutical industry vehemently opposed drug imports by claiming they were unsafe. Food and Drug Administration commissioners had also opposed importing drugs intended for overseas use, citing safety issues.

Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services, described the announcement as momentous.

“For the first time in history, HHS and the FDA are open to importation as a means to lower drug prices,” he said.

He also said, “We will not take steps that would put patients or our drug supply at risk.”

First announced in July, the proposal is still a long way from affecting consumers’ wallets. States will have to submit their own plans to the federal government for approval, to see if they are both safe and would significantly reduce costs.

Importantly, many of the most expensive drugs are excluded from this proposal, including insulin and biologic drugs like Humira and other injectable drugs. A 2003 law limited the types of drugs that could be imported.

A separate plan that would allow manufacturers to import into the United States their own drugs that were intended for sale in other countries would apply to a wider range of products. But under that proposal, manufacturers would have to agree to participate. Federal officials have said that some drugmakers have expressed interest in doing so, without providing specifics.

Azar said that the announcement this week was just the beginning and that if the programs were successful, they could be expanded.

As public outrage over high drug prices has mounted, state leaders from both parties have considered importing drugs from Canada as a way of addressing the issue. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis favors such a plan, and President Trump has repeatedly said he will help make it happen. Other states, including Colorado, Vermont and Maine, also favor importation.