The pillmakers didn't like to see this one!

From John Curry, November 10, 2008
Subject: The pillmakers didn't like to see this one!

www.pharmalot.com

Chief Of Staff Rahm Emanuel: A Friend To Pharma?

By Ed Silverman // November 7th, 2008 // 10:52 am

Now that the Democratic Congressman from Illinois has accepted the job of chief staff to President-elect Barack Obama, we thought we should share with you some of his remarks about the pharmaceutical industry over the past few years. Specifically, he railed against pharma over the issue of reimportation on a couple of occasions…

In September 2004, he had this to say: “…It’s not just politicians standing around and talking about why we need importation. How many studies do we need to show that the American people are convinced that drugs are too expensive in this country and committed to doing something about it?..The pharmaceutical industry and Congressional Leadership continue to hide behind the facade of safety concerns, while Americans continue go without the drugs they need.”

And in June 2007, a few months after introducing the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act (HR 380), he said this: “For too long the Congress has let the pharmaceutical industry stand in the way of keeping safe and affordable prescription drugs out of the hands of the consumers. With this bipartisan legislation, we can help the American consumers benefit from a truly open and competitive marketplace.”