Have you hears of drug importation? Wait, what?! Is drug importation a real thing? The answer is a big yes! In fact, this process has been around for many years now. It is done by drug company (บริษัทยา, term in Thai) or so called drug distribution or drug Importation Company. This explains why there are drugs that run out of supply and would take some time to be available in the market again. These drugs are imported from another country for some reasons. It could be that they are cheaper and widely available there when compared to your country of residents. In this article, we will discuss why drug importation takes place and why is it necessary.
Advantage of importing drugs?
Importing drugs many sound absurd to some people because why should you import drug on the first place? The truth of the matter is that many countries import drugs from countries that have built a reputation as top pharmaceutical manufacturers such as the India and Canada. For instance, India ranked as the third largest volume in the world when it comes to manufacturing medicines, especially prescription drugs. India also has many companies assisting them in exporting their products.
Drug importation is beneficial for mainly one reason – it helps generate a huge number of drugs at a significantly lower cost. Most of these drugs are tagged as prescription drugs and so pharmaceutical companies strictly adhere to safety and efficacy standards set by the Food and Drug Administration. Pharmaceutical companies religiously follow the rigorous quality measurement standards set by various regulating bodies, especially the World Health Organization.
The ultimate goal of drug importation includes the following:
- To make drugs more accessible and widely available to many people.
- To ensure that the cost of drugs will be significantly affordable.
- To guarantee both safety and efficacy, especially in prescription medicines.
- To make different types of drugs and health supplies available to the general public such as allopathic medicines, generic drugs, prescription drugs, herbal or so-called ayurvedic drugs, and surgical equipment.
Are there any limitations or challenges with drug importation?
Although drug importation is beneficial in many ways, it also has its fair share of challenges and limitations. One of the issues is the Food and Drug Administration approval process. If you are not aware, the process sis quite lengthy and tedious. The drug manufacturer must be able to demonstrate and prove safety and efficacy of the drugs. Any drugs not approved by FDA are tagged as “misbranded” and importing them is illegal. You could be held liable to the law. In fact, it is considered a criminal offense and there are other penalties involved.
Although FDA’s approval process is lengthy, it can be considered a safety measure with the overall goal of ensuring consumers will only get the best drugs. After all, medicines should make you feel well and not the other way around. Once the drugs are approved for importation, it will give consumers peace of mind knowing that the drugs they’re going to access safeguard their overall well-being.
