For Immediate Release
December 9, 2003
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Statement of Senator Jarrett T. Barrios on Boston's Plan to Reimport Prescription Drugs

Barrios to deliver testimony at tonight's city council hearing.

Boston, MA -- Senator Jarrett T. Barrios (D-Cambridge) today released the following statement lauding Mayor Menino on his proposal to launch a limited reimportation program for the city's employees and retirees. Barrios, a leader in prescription drug reimportation, has been invited by the Boston City Council to testify at tonight's 5:00 PM City Hall hearing about state efforts throughout the country to reimport prescription drugs from Canada. The statement is an excerpt from the testimony Senator Barrios will deliver at tonight's hearing:

"It takes great courage to protect the city's hard working employees and retirees from the excessively high cost of prescription drugs," said Senator Barrios. "In their thirst for bigger profit margins the pharmaceutical industry forces our elderly and sick residents into an unconscionable position. If the federal government, Governor Romney and profitable pharmaceutical companies are not going to do anything to lower prescription drug prices, then local leaders and the Legislature should be praised for their immediate responses which are saving lives and taxpayer dollars."

Senator Barrios continued, "I am the sponsor of legislation on Beacon Hill that would provide Massachusetts consumers with the information they need to buy affordable and safe prescription drugs from Canada. My bill, combined with the efforts of local leaders like Mayor Menino, Boston City Councilor Michael Ross and Mayor Michael Albano of Springfield, is helping to define the debate about how we can best help consumers in our state who are struggling to balance payments for their prescription drugs and rent or food. If the FDA, big pharmaceutical companies and Governor Romney won't step forward to help lower prices, there's no reason we shouldn't immediately act on these innovative solutions to help our elderly and sick consumers realize the savings of 30%-80% that come from reimporting medicines prescribed by their doctors."

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