Early in October, House and Senate Republicans reached an agreement on a bill that could substantially cut prescription drug costs. The bill would allow Americans to buy re-imported drugs from countries that market them cheaply.

Drugs manufactured in the U.S. and approved by the FDA often sell for lower prices in foreign countries. Many nations like Canada have strict price controls that protect their citizens from spending too much money on prescription drugs. If the drug re-importation bill passes, wholesalers in the U.S. could buy drugs from Canada and sell them back to the consumer at cheaper prices.

Many elderly patients already go to Canada to fill their prescriptions. Prescription medication can cost three to four times less in Canada and Europe than in the U.S., according to the Life Extension Foundation. Anjetta McQueen of the Associated Press cites Alan Sager, a professor at Boston University's School of Public Health. Sager points out that Americans could save $38 billion this year if they could pay Canadian prices for brand-name U.S. drugs.

Considering the expensive costs of many common prescription drugs like Prozac and Viagra, it is not surprising that Americans have crossed the border to get prescriptions filled at a reasonable price. Yet if the drug re-importation bill passes, people will be able to buy cheaper drugs from their local pharmacies.

Congress has tried to reduce prescription drug costs in the past. Last July, the House passed a measure that allows Americans to buy prescription drugs from foreign countries by mail order. According to an article written by the Associated Press in July 2001, "People caught ordering drugs by mail often get warning letters from the FDA."

The FDA has voiced concerns about importing drugs from other countries. They fear that other nations do not have the same consumer safety standards as the United States. Americans who fill their prescriptions with re-imported drugs might find that the foreign versions lack the potency of their domestic counterparts. Also, manufactures might mislabel drugs during the re-importation process.

However, with proper regulations in place, the FDA can protect consumers from the possible dangers of re-imported drugs. Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota told the Associated Press that the FDA should be able to inspect medicines just as they inspect food and produce from abroad. By fining companies for unsafe or impotent drugs, the FDA can ensure that re-imported pharmaceuticals are effective and safe. In response to critics who question the FDA's ability to inspect imported drugs, Senator Dorgan suggested that the law could be rewritten to allow re-importation from Canada only. Much like the U.S., Canada tests drugs through a long approval process before they can be sold to consumers.

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, there are growing concerns about the cost and quality of health care. Medicare reform has become increasingly important, especially for the elderly. Any effective attempt at Medicare reform must include a plan to reduce prescription drug costs.

Furthermore, the current wave of anthrax attacks has increased the demand for cheap Ciprofloxacin, known more commonly as Cipro. Cipro is an antibiotic that kills the bacteria responsible for anthrax. Bayer, an American firm that holds the patent on Cipro, charges $1.87 per tablet. CNN reports that Apotex, the largest pharmaceutical company in Canada, can produce a generic version of Cipro for nearly half the cost. Some officials in the U.S. have suggested stockpiling up to 100 million tablets of Cipro to defend against anthrax. If these estimates are accurate, the U.S. could save millions of dollars by importing Cipro from Canada.

Asad Jaleel is a junior at UIC studying Biological Sciences. He aspires to pursue a career in medicine.