Numerous healthcare experts, government and law enforcement officials and even patient advocacy groups have voiced their concerns about the growing worldwide counterfeit epidemic.  Fortunately, America’s closed drug supply system, for the most part, shields patients from this epidemic.  In other parts of the world, however, weak regulatory systems have not protected foreign patients from counterfeit drugs.  And often times, this means that foreign patients suffering from a wide range of diseases such as malaria, hypertension, HIV/AIDS and even cancer, are not getting the medicine they need to lead longer, healthier lives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said repeatedly that it could not guarantee the safety of medicines coming into the U.S. from foreign countries.  So if government regulators cannot guarantee the safety of imported pharmaceuticals, then why should importation should be legalized?  This is a question we must all ask ourselves.