State Boards of Pharmacy Oversight of Drug Importation (Resolution 117-3-21)

RESOLUTION NO: 117-3-21
TITLE: State Boards of Pharmacy Oversight of Drug Importation
ACTION: PASS

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services is in the process of implementing a program that would allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere in order to reduce patient cost; and

WHEREAS, seven states have enacted prescription drug importation laws, and legislation has been introduced this past year in 29 other states; and

WHEREAS, an allowance for patients to import prescription drugs from outside the US may impose patient safety risks and does not comport with the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy nor the drug supply chain regulatory oversight enforced by most state boards of pharmacy;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP continue to educate policymakers about the complexities of purchasing drugs outside the current drug supply chain model, the prevalence of rogue drug outlets and the risks associated with purchasing from them, and the importance for consumers to be able to recognize safe online pharmacies such as those that have achieved NABP Digital Pharmacy Accreditation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP closely monitor this issue, including any federal and/or state actions, to ensure that boards of pharmacy can reasonably fulfill requirements for protecting patient safety, and that NABP alert the state boards of pharmacy or other appropriate state agencies regarding actions that should be taken to properly oversee importation programs.

(Resolution passed at the 117^th Annual Meeting.)