South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is one of a group of Republican governors urging Congress to address the nationwide shortage of prescription drugs. Governor Noem and her colleagues submitted a letter to leadership in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The letter was addressed to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The governors want Congress to consider adding the following important policy solutions to any upcoming legislation aimed at addressing drug shortages:
- Transparency in the pharmaceutical manufacturing chain from sourcing raw materials to the finished product, including country of origin labeling;
- Increased diversity in the manufacturing of generic medications with regards to both raw materials and final manufacturing;
- Require transparency from the FDA related to shortages and events that cause supply disruption;
- Extending useful life of medications when appropriate by re-examining FDA guidance related to expiration dates;
- Waivers to allow purchasing of medications from Canada to expand our supply chain capability quickly;
- Creation of a regulatory environment that is more favorable to U.S. manufacturing to include instituting shorter “cure periods” for U.S. manufacturing plants; and,
- Requiring a risk assessment of foreign source active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Along with Noem, the following Republican governors signed the letter: Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
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