Summary
Florida’s plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada remains stalled nearly a year after FDA approval, with no timeline for implementation.
Despite Governor Ron DeSantis’ claims of victory over the drug industry, operational hurdles and resistance from Canadian officials, who fear domestic shortages, have hindered progress.
Florida has spent over $50 million on the program, meant to reduce costs for state agencies like Medicaid, but no drugs have been imported.
Critics highlight logistical complexities and minor projected savings, while similar efforts in other states, like Colorado, also face delays.
Seriously… Do you know what Canada does? The gov’t buys wholesale from pharmaceutical companies. That’s it. The Canadian gov’t runs a drug Costco on behalf of its citizens and we all save.
Why doesn’t Florida just negotiate their own wholesale drug prices from the manufacturers on its own? Why does it need Canada to do that for them?