Florida sues FDA over delayed cheaper prescriptions from Canada

The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the FDA. The lawsuit focuses on a program that would allow the state to import cheaper prescriptions drugs from Canada. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Florida had submitted its plan to import drugs from Canada 21 months ago.

The lawsuit claimed the FDA did not allow the application to go through quickly, preventing the drugs from getting to Florida. Florida was the first state to apply for the program back in November 2020. Last year, the Biden Administration said the FDA would begin implementing the program. This past April, there was a sense of progress as the FDA began discussions with multiple states, including Florida. But according to Florida’s Health Agency, the FDA has not offered any more information about the program’s next steps since April.

“Florida has been ready to deliver cheaper prescription drugs to those that need them for nearly two years,” DeSantis said in a news release. “The lack of transparency by the Biden administration during the approval process, and failure to provide records on the importation proposal, is costing Floridians who are facing rising prices across the board due to inflation.”