Drug Purchases From Foreign Countries Lack US Safeguards

Rising prescription drug prices may prompt some consumers to seek less expensive medications from foreign countries, but pharmacists can help promote drug safety by educating patients on US safeguards such as the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, according to an article in StatPearls.

“The primary concern surrounding the purchase of prescription drugs from abroad is the challenge of monitoring the storage and handling of the medications and the increased risk of counterfeit medications. This leads to the lack of safety and efficacy of medications,” wrote authors Christian Cullen, MD, of the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, and Rachel Stephens-Utne, PharmD, of Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.

Passed in 1988, the Prescription Drug Marketing Act focuses on safe and effective distribution of prescription drugs, the article explains. Consequently, it guards against the sale of compromised, counterfeit, expired, and poorly labeled drugs and prohibits the reimportation of drugs back into the US after export.

However, the US Food and Drug Administration’s Personal Importation Policy allows patients to import prescription medications from other countries for personal use. According to the authors, the policy was intended to help patients with limited treatment options but over time has been used by patients to purchase cheaper medications.

“In a study evaluating 35,000 to 50,000 online pharmacies, the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies revealed 96% fail to comply with US laws and regulations implemented to protect patients,” the article reported.

Pharmacists, prescribers, and other team members involved in prescription drug delivery can help patients by talking to them about drug safety “and the dangers of purchasing unregulated drugs through illegal online pharmacies,” the authors advised.

Reference

Cullen C, Stephens-Utne R. Prescription Drug Marketing Act. [Updated 2023 Jun 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574533/