WASHINGTON - Supporters of legislation to permit importation of lower-cost prescription drugs struggled to overcome opposition by the Bush administration and the pharmaceutical industry early Friday in an emotional clash that crossed customary party and ideological lines.
"I was not sent here by drug companies and I will not stand here and see American seniors take a back seat to the pharmaceutical industry," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Missouri.
"A bottle of tamoxifen, used to fight breast cancer, costs $360 in the United States. It costs $60 in Germany," she added.
But critics argued the bill, while it held out the hope of lower prices, would sacrifice patient safety. ..
This time, the bill backed by Republican Reps. Gil Gutknecht of Minnesota and Emerson, as well as Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, ordered HHS to set up a system to allow importation of FDA (news - web sites)-approved drugs from FDA-approved facilities in Canada, the European Union (news - web sites) and seven other nations.
The measure also would require imported medicine to be shipped in anti- tampering and anti-counterfeiting packaging.
But the Bush administration issued a statement calling the bill "dangerous legislation."
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