|
Resolution
“Health and Safety in America
is a Family Matter”
WHEREAS, The League of United
Latin American Citizens has been an effective
voice improving the health and welfare of
Latinos in the county since 1929; and
WHEREAS, LULAC
supports the delivery of equality healthcare,
including safe and effective prescription drugs
for all Latino working families; and
WHEREAS, one of
the missions of LULAC is to improve the health
and well-being of Latinos and to be an advocate
insuring accountability in this area; and
WHEREAS, the
Latino community is facing a healthcare crisis
in American, where over 45 million people are
uninsured, underinsured, or live with a family
member who is uninsured; and
WHEREAS, 85% of
the uninsured persons under the age of 65 are
members of working families making less than
200% of the federal Poverty Level; and
WHEREAS,
one-third of the uninsured population come from
Latino working families; and
WHEREAS, LULAC
believes that a healthcare system based on
informed consumer choice through a private
healthcare delivery system is essential to
promotin patients’ access to needed care,
prescription safety, and affordability; and
WHEREAS, without
insurance, persons with chronic conditions like
diabetes and heart disease are less likely to
have regular check-ups or get medications that
control their diseases; and
WHEREAS, LULAC
supports a focus on increasing medical research
of Latino health needs such as preventing
chronic deases and providing quality healthcare;
and
WHEREAS, LULAC
will continue to advocate for more funding for
community and migrant healthcare centers; and
WHEREAS, LULAC
is concerned about the risks to Latino consumers
that will be caused allowing commercial
importation of medicines from unknown,
unverified or unsafe sources; and
WHEREAS,
Canadian regulators have repeatedly said they do
not inspect or certify the safety of
prescription medicines that are being
transshipped through Canada to United States
consumers. Opening the borders to importation
from other countries creates a gap in our
prescription drug delivery system that
counterfeiters can and will exploit; and
WHEREAS,
according to the Canadian Government Trade
Agency, there were significant increases in
Canadian Imports of pharmaceuticals from
countries that have documented counterfeit
problems, 3rd world countries such as
Singapore (30), Ecuador (198%), China (43%),
Iran (2.753%), Argentina (221%) South Africa
(84%), and Thailand (52%); and
WHEREAS, both
the Clinton and Bush Administration Health and
Human Services Secretaries, several former FDA
commissioners, and U.S./Canada Pharmacy
Regulatory Agencies all have voiced safety
concerns over the importation of foreign drugs
into this country; and
WHEREAS, neither
the FDA, Health Canada, U.S. Customs, or U.S.
Drug Enforcement Agency have enough inspectors
to monitor the Safety assurance of imported
prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, Canada
is being used as a post office for third-world
countries to sell and import their prescription
drugs into the U.S.; and
These and other safety
concerns are why the Latinos in LULAC
respectfully oppose any legislation that would
jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens
with the importation of unregulated unsafe
prescription drugs.
THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that LULAC supports patient
assistance programs that provide free or deeply
discounted prescription drugs to eligible
patients who do not have prescription drug
coverage.
Submitted by: LULAC Council
#4626
San Antonio, Texas
Jaime P. Martinez Pres.
Adopted this 10th day of July
2004.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
