Kansas Legislature may ban drug imports

TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Kansas lawmakers want to outlaw the importation of prescription drugs, setting up a confrontation with Democrat Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who likes the idea.

The ban on imports would apply to those who sell the drugs -- both in the United States and in Canada -- and would not penalize consumers who imported prescription drugs. Lawmakers who support the ban say imported drugs are potentially dangerous because they circumvent U.S. safeguards and hurt pharmacists and drug companies.

Critics of the proposal say it's an empty threat meant only to scare consumers away from imported prescriptions, the Kansas City (Mo.) Star said Thursday.

Reduced prices are not worth the risk of receiving substandard, counterfeit or expired drugs, said Christopher Ward, a Hamilton, Ontario, health-care consultant who briefed lawmakers this week. By winking at importation, "we're playing fast and loose with patient safety," Ward said.

Sebelius has previously announced Kansas would participate in a program with Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin permitting residents to order refills of common prescriptions from Canada, Ireland and Britain.