PhRMA calls for repeal of law detailed in opioid report

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Tuesday called for the repeal of a controversial law detailed in a recent report that critics say allows for the free flow of lethal opioid drugs. 

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The Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 has come under renewed scrutiny after a new joint report from the Washington Post and “60 Minutes” that pointed to the law as undercutting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to crackdown on the flow of the drugs into the market.

In addition to new legislation that would repeal the law, PhRMA, one of the largest prescription drug lobbying groups, urged Congress to reconsider the penalties for DEA-registered drug distributors who fail to ensure the safety of opioid distribution by reporting suspicious purchases of the drugs. 

“We will continue our efforts to fight this terrible epidemic, and we stand ready to work across the entire system to find ways to work together to do so,” said PhRMA president Stephen J. Ubl in a statement.

The U.S. is currently in the midst of an opioid crisis, which experts predict could kill more than half a million Americans over the next decade if the issue worsens.