FDA Authorizes Florida , to Import Bulk Drugs From Canada.<br />This is the first time that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved such a program in the state, CBS News reports. .<br />The approval will likely make it easier for other states to request similar permissions to get prescriptions from Canada, where drug prices are significantly cheaper.<br />Drug classes that Florida requested include prescriptions "for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, diabetes, HIV and AIDS, and mental illness," CBS News reports. .<br />Only certain people, such as foster children, prison inmates and elderly patients would qualify for the cheaper drugs at first.<br />Eventually, Medicaid recipients would have access to the lower drug costs as well.<br />The plan was signed into law by <br />Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019 but required <br />FDA approval to be put into action. .<br />In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order instructing the FDA to cooperate with states on drug imports. .<br />On average, U.S. drug prices are 218% <br />of costs in Canada, CBS News reports. .<br />Florida predicts that up to $150 million could be saved for the state annually with the new program.<br />The state's Agency for Heath Care Administration will be required to give the FDA quarterly reports about imported drugs and any possible safety or quality issues.<br />The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers <br />of America opposes the FDA's decision to <br />approve the program, CBS News reports.<br />We are deeply concerned with the <br />FDA's reckless decision to approve <br />Florida's state importation plan, PhRMA President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl, via statement.<br />Ensuring patients have access to <br />needed medicines is critical, but <br />the importation of unapproved <br />medicines, whether from Canada <br />or elsewhere in the world, poses <br />a serious danger to public health, PhRMA President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl, via statement
