Is Walmart taking unacceptable risks sourcing its prescription drugs?
posted by: Joe Baker 184 days ago
This post is from Wakeup Walmart, a project of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
[Editor's note: Care2 encourages our non-profit partners to contribute their perspective on issues. This guest blog post is authored by Wake Up Wal-Mart, a project of UFCW.]
Many of us have seen the enticing ads from Walmart advertising $4 prescription drugs. Indeed, Walmart has rapidly grown to hold a significant share of the US pharmacy market. Well, there's a catch. It turns out that Walmart is obtaining some of its much-touted $4 prescription medications from a disgraced Indian drug maker called Ranbaxy Laboratories.
According to the Justice Department, Ranbaxy is responsible for introducing potentially "subpotent, superpotent, or adulterated" drugs into the market. In layspeak, that means medications from Ranbaxy could have contained active ingredients from unapproved sources, in unapproved blends, and in amounts weaker than FDA-approved doses.
Ranbaxy has been cited for violations at least three times since 2006 by the FDA, including a ban on drugs from two of the company’s plants last year. And as recently as February 2009, the FDA halted review of some import applications from Ranbaxy due to "evidence of falsified data."
Despite this, Walmart continues to import drugs from other Ranbaxy plants, stating that there is no evidence that the tainted versions of Ranbaxy's drugs have reached its store shelves.
We at Wake Up Walmart have just released a report exposing Walmart's ongoing relationship with Ranbaxy despite the drugmaker's history of unsafe and unscrupulous practices.
It’s not as if Walmart didn’t know: Ranbaxy has been the subject of federal warnings for years about "systemic fraudulent contact." This while running an extensive PR campaign touting itself as a leader in global health and ethical sourcing leader.
I don't know about you, but I'm not comfortable with Walmart luring customers with promises of cheap drugs that may or may not be safe. You can do something about it. Let your local newspaper know the truth about Walmart's irresponsible drug sourcing.
Many of us have seen the enticing ads from Walmart advertising $4 prescription drugs. Indeed, Walmart has rapidly grown to hold a significant share of the US pharmacy market. Well, there's a catch. It turns out that Walmart is obtaining some of its much-touted $4 prescription medications from a disgraced Indian drug maker called Ranbaxy Laboratories.
According to the Justice Department, Ranbaxy is responsible for introducing potentially "subpotent, superpotent, or adulterated" drugs into the market. In layspeak, that means medications from Ranbaxy could have contained active ingredients from unapproved sources, in unapproved blends, and in amounts weaker than FDA-approved doses.
Ranbaxy has been cited for violations at least three times since 2006 by the FDA, including a ban on drugs from two of the company’s plants last year. And as recently as February 2009, the FDA halted review of some import applications from Ranbaxy due to "evidence of falsified data."
Despite this, Walmart continues to import drugs from other Ranbaxy plants, stating that there is no evidence that the tainted versions of Ranbaxy's drugs have reached its store shelves.
We at Wake Up Walmart have just released a report exposing Walmart's ongoing relationship with Ranbaxy despite the drugmaker's history of unsafe and unscrupulous practices.
It’s not as if Walmart didn’t know: Ranbaxy has been the subject of federal warnings for years about "systemic fraudulent contact." This while running an extensive PR campaign touting itself as a leader in global health and ethical sourcing leader.
I don't know about you, but I'm not comfortable with Walmart luring customers with promises of cheap drugs that may or may not be safe. You can do something about it. Let your local newspaper know the truth about Walmart's irresponsible drug sourcing.
Read more: politics
comments
Big Business and Control is why we are going under as a country. I guess the Drug Co.s are more Co.s that are too big to fail. Except they are. But like GM, they have priced themselves out of a market. Now that we have found a cheaper source for buying our medicine, they are panicking. And since the FDA has been in their pockets for yrs., they are using the FDA to try to disqualify Walmarts sources.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
There is something that maybe the stores know that most of the public isn't aware of yet.The FDA is in the pocket of the Big Drug companies. Not only are they flagging Indian drug makers but one at a time they are placing violations on most of the foreign makers all over the world discouraging trade with the cheaper imports to eventually turn the public against importing drugs at all and only using FDA approved American medicines. They have a record of doing the same thing with the alternative market. Flagging vitamins and natural remedies;arresting Dr.'s researching cures for cancer( in several cases where the studies were showing patients being cured)confiscating all their files and making them agree to not research anymore under major legal penalties.Orin Hatch, who just got huge funding for the FDA to upgrade it's ability to protect consumers has a history of using the FDA to go after the Health Food Industry. Now he has his two sons each strategically placed in power on both sides to make it easier for Big Drugs to take over the Trillion dollar Health product market.Remember,Walmart and Rite Aid etc.,work like every other business. "Will it cost more to pay off the families of those who die than the profit margin of selling tainted products?" If these drugs were really that bad, considering how much they sell ,it would be financial suicide to buy from this company. They're good businessmen. Always think through the motives behind EVERYTHING the government does. It's ne
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
What I want to know is if the FDA has cited this company, why are any of our nations pharmacies able to get prescription meds from them?? I would assume the FDA would ban any of that companies drugs coming into the USA!!! Of course Wally World, Wal Greens, CVS and the entire rest of our pharmacies are going to get what is cheapest. It lines their back pockets more and more. They don't give a darned about how it could effect their patients... what urks me about this so much, is the FDA wants to screw with pain patients and their medications, which is totally ridiculous, rather than go after and eliminate practices and companies that they know are making substandard medications.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Alot of pharm companys have been busted out by the FDA for one reason or another and our grocery stores, walgreens, and rite aid still do business with them. How come we are not talking about how this is an issue with most places you get your meds? Why are we just focused on Walmart right now?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account:
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
1177373