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Legislation combating illegal online drug sales receives support from HDMA

7/14/2008

ARLINGTON, Va. Members for the House of Representatives, including Bart Stupak, D-Mich., Lamar Smith, R-Tex., and Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., have received praise from the Healthcare Distribution Management Association for introducing the bipartisan legislation H.R. 6353, which is aimed at combating illegal online sales of prescription medicines.

HDMA believes that only licensed pharmacists should be dispensing medications to patients and is in favor of any legislation that protects healthcare for consumers.

HDMA senior vice president of government affairs Scott Melville also said that, “For many years, HDMA has been a strong supporter of supply chain safety and security efforts, and we work each day with manufacturers, pharmacies, legislators, regulators and law enforcement to continuously monitor, enhance and improve security measures in place today. Make no mistake, the criminals running rogue, illegitimate Internet pharmacies must be stopped and punished accordingly for their crimes.”

H.R. 6353 is a joint legislation to the Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act (S. 980), introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. This act aims to prohibit the delivery, distribution or dispensing of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription.

HDMA also co-sponsored an event last week in Washington to discuss the efforts and practices that have been and should be taken to protect the health and safety of the consumer in relation to healthcare, food and consumer products.

Speaking about the “Import Safety Summit,” HDMA president and chief executive officer John Gray said, “HDMA has a strong record of exploring and implementing continuous improvements in this domestic supply chain. For many years, we have led the development of industry guidelines, research and education programs to review and strengthen safety and security measures currently in place. As logistics and operations experts, our members have led a broad range of industry-wide working groups and forums to support cooperation and coordination across the supply chain, enhance patient safety and continue exploration of 21st Century security technologies.”

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