Tampa (Florida)/IBNS: Florida became the first state in the United States to import certain drugs from Canada which could save the US state an estimated $150 million annually.

The decision was made after the allowance was given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Having set up a federal regulatory agency decades ago to ensure patent drug prices are not excessive, Canada has resisted such import plans for years.

Canada has said that it is following safeguards to prevent shortage of prescription drugs that Florida is importing from Canadian wholesalers to treat such conditions as HIV/AIDS, diabetes and hepatitis C.

“I want to assure Canadians that they will continue to have access to medications they need when they need them,” Canada's federal Health Minister Mark Holland said in a media statement.

“Canadians can be confident that our government will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the drug supply in Canada.”

According to Health Canada there are provisions under the Food and Drugs Act that prohibit certain drugs from being sold outside of the country “if that sale could cause, or worsen, a drug shortage in Canada.”

A Health Canada spokesperson had said in a media statement that it is “actively monitoring the Canadian drug supply and continues to ensure that Canadians have access to the drugs that they need.”

“Historically, we’ve had some pretty devastating drug shortages in Canada…I’m skeptical that it will actually come to fruition in its current form, but we want to make sure that we’re diligent about reviewing it and making sure that we’re not missing something.”

Joelle Walker, vice president of public affairs for the Canadian Pharmacists Association was reported saying and urged Canadians not to rush out to stock up on their prescriptions, which could trigger shortages.

Innovative Medicines Canada, a trade group that represents about 50 pharma companies, said allowing Florida to import drugs meant for Canadians could “disrupt” Canada’s health-care system.

“Canada simply can’t supply drugs to Florida, or any other U.S. states, without significantly increasing the risk and severity of drug shortages nationwide,” David Renwick, interim president of Innovative Medicines Canada, said in a statement.

“The U.S. market is nearly 10 times bigger than Canada’s, and allowing drugs that were intended for Canadians to be exported to the U.S. would harm Canadian patients and disrupt our health-care system.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Florida the go-ahead to buy cheaper wholesale prescription drugs from Canada, which has reignited fears of drug shortages in this country.

Calling the FDA’s decision “reckless”, the head of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), said that “ensuring patients have access to needed medicines is critical, but the importation of unapproved medicines, whether from Canada or elsewhere in the world, poses a serious danger to public health."

"PhRMA is considering all options for preventing this policy from harming patients.”

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)