Men's Health Network Expresses Concerns Regarding Drug Importation

Men's Health Network Expresses Concerns Regarding Drug Importation

3/16/2005 5:23:00 PM

To: National Desk and Health Reporter

Contact: Cory Jensen of the Men's Health Network, 202-543-6461 ext. 106, http://www.menshealthnetwork.org

WASHINGTON, March 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In the wake of a recent report that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seized drugs being imported from abroad intended for American citizens, Men' Health Network would like to reiterate its concern regarding drug importation.

The cost of medical services, including the cost of pharmaceuticals, is of concern to all Americans. While we applaud efforts to contain the cost of medical services, those efforts must take into consideration the safety of the product used by the health care consumer. Consumers of medical care in the United States have become comfortable with the knowledge that our government insists on the highest of standards for the products necessary for their health care. It remains uncertain whether any other country has the ability to insure such quality in the products available in their countries, or is willing to establish and maintain the infrastructure necessary to do so.

While the purchase of drugs at lower cost from other countries is enticing, the safety and quality of those products cannot be ensured. Our citizens deserve the highest quality products in their pursuit of remedies for their health problems. The drugs seized by the FDA included shipments from I-Save-Rx. The president of CanaRX (which supplies I-Save-Rx) recently stated that they import drugs from foreign countries in order to keep up with the demands of exporting drugs to the United States. Among the countries that CanaRX imports drug from is India, a country known for drug counterfeiting problems.

When filling their prescriptions, Men's Health Network hopes that all Americans will take into consideration the safety of their drug purchases. American pharmacies can guarantee their products meet the standards for safety set forth by the Food and Drug Administration.

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Men's Health Network is a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals. MHN is committed to improving the health and wellness of men through education campaigns, data collection and work with health care providers to provide better programs and funding on men's health needs. MHN has an experienced professional speakers bureau available on every men's health topic, including; prostate cancer, young adult male health, African-American men's health, Hispanic health and the role of women in men's health.

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