Senate passes online pharmacy act; bill awaits Bush’s pen to become law

WASHINGTON Retail pharmacy groups are hailing passage in the U.S. Senate of legislation to clamp down on illegal online pharmacies, and awaiting word that the bill will clear a final hurdle to become law: a signature by the president.

The Senate Tuesday approved the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 in a bid to clamp down on the illegal sale, abuse and trafficking of prescription drugs over the Internet. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives Sept. 23, would require a valid prescription for the purchase or distribution of any prescription drug over the Internet, issued by a prescribing physician or other qualified professional who personally has examined the patient. However, it would exempt remote-site pharmacies that operate under approved telemedicine procedures.

Michele Leonhart, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, hailed Congressional passage of the online pharmacy bill. “This landmark piece of legislation will bring rogue pharmacy operators out of the shadows by establishing a clear standard for legitimate online pharmaceutical sales,” she yesterday. “The legislation will allow customers to know they are doing business with a?trusted, legitimate pharmacy, and give law enforcement the tools we need to identify illegitimate online pharmacies.”

Added Stephen Giroux, president of the National Community Pharmacists Association and an independent pharmacy owner in upstate New York, “There are just some services that should not be available online. This legislation to clamp down on illegal online operators is the first step in the right direction.”