Florida now can import drugs from Canada. My patients can't wait.

The Food and Drug Administration finally approved the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to Florida last week, a long awaited move.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law to allow this all the way back in 2019. This move has bipartisan support, and the White House is encouraging other states to follow, and in fact Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin already have laws allowing drug importation.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order back in 2021 directing the FDA to work with the states on imports, opening the door.

The real question is: Considering that we have the highest drug prices of any developed country, how much difference will this make in bringing down prescription drug prices in the United States to a more reasonable place? The answer is that even if it's just a small step, it's a step in the right direction.

Part of the reason for this problem is the powerful drug lobbies, led by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which oppose drug importation of medications from Canada and other........

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