Compounding Pharmacy Bill Might Not Make Drugs Safer
Nov. 18 2013
By SYDNEY LUPKIN
via WORLD NEWS
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Health Reporter
SYDNEY LUPKINMore From Sydney »
Health Reporter
Most Americans had never heard of compounding pharmacies until the now-shuttered New England Compounding Center was blamed for making tainted steroid injections that killed 64 people and sickened about 700 others in a fungal outbreak in 20 states.
Today, Congress passed legislation for stricter regulations on them to prevent repeat of what officials have called the "largest documented healthcare-related outbreak in the United States."
"Even in the midst of partisan stalemate, Congress can still come together to pass meaningful legislation to protect the public's health," said Allan Coukell, director of drugs and medical devices at Pew Charitable Trusts. "This legislation will help protect lives and alleviate these costs by ensuring that prescription drugs are safe, effective and of the highest quality."
But not everyone is convinced the bill will make patients safer. In fact, some health policy experts say just the opposite.
"It makes what is now illegal legal," said Dr. Michael Carome, who directs the health research group at Public Citizen, a think tank.
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