[Ip-health] Bush Writes GPhA: Generics Save Billions In Prescription Drug Costs

[James Love]

Tuesday, February 04, 2003
InsideHealthPolicy.com Daily Updates

Bush Writes GPhA: Generics Save Billions In Prescription Drug Costs

The day before he gave his State of the Union address President Bush
sent a letter to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) praising
the group for its efforts to provide affordable medicines, maintaining
that generic drugs save consumers billions of dollars in prescription
drug costs.

Although Bush did not mention generic drugs or GPhA in his address, the
letter suggests the White House views generic drugs as a key element of
its prescription drug strategy. =93By saving consumers billions of dollars
in prescription drug costs, generic drugs play a critical role in
helping ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving drugs and
advancements in medicine to help them live better and longer lives,=94
according to the Jan. 27 letter.

Bush's letter comes at a time when there are renewed efforts by the
administration and lawmakers to pass a Medicare drug benefit, and
questions have been raised about whether the program would force the use
of generic drugs in certain situations.

In the letter, Bush pointed out that he unveiled a new proposed
regulation late last year that would change the implementation of
Hatch-Waxman to help speed generic drugs to market. Bush added that the
administration has requested a $13 million increase to the generic drugs
program for fiscal year 2004.


Text: Bush Letter To GPhA


January 27, 2003



I send greetings to those gathered for the 2003 Annual Meeting of the
Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA).


Our Nation's healthcare system thrives on our ability to develop new
technologies, and we must work to make these innovative breakthroughs
affordable and widely available. By saving consumers billions of dollars
in prescription drug costs, generic drugs play a critical role in
helping ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving drugs and
advancements in medicine to help them live better and longer lives.

Last year, I announced new regulatory action governing how generic drugs
can compete with brand name drugs that will lower prescription drug
costs for millions of Americans. For the continued health and prosperity
of our country, I will urge Congress to approve additional funding for
the Federal Drug Administration to hire 40 new experts in the Office of
Generic Drugs. This expansion will enable the agency to review the
safety and effectiveness of generic drugs more quickly, shortening the
average review to me by two months and further reducing the cost of
prescription drugs.

I commend the GPhA for your commitment to providing consumers with
critical information, and I applaud your ongoing work to advance
affordable, quality medicine. Your important efforts bring hope and
healing to countless individuals and help to enhance the quality of life
for all.


George Bush




--
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technlogy
http://www.cptech.org, mailto:james.love@cptech.org
tel. +1.202.387.8030, mobile +1.202.361.3040