Mayor's prescription is all wrong
4/3/2004
MAYOR THOMAS Menino thinks he can have it both ways on biotechnology ("Boston's leadership on Rx drug pricing," op ed, March 24), but in reality that's just not possible.Menino first praises the contribution of area biotech employers to the local economy and world community, and then calls for illegally importing price-controlled drugs from Canada. He has joined a growing list of politicians who want to score political points by supporting a hot industry like biotechnology and its highly skilled, high paying jobs, while simultaneously promising to save residents money on drugs and hopping on the drug company-bashing bandwagon.
The mayor's prescription offers the appearance of temporary budget relief, but also creates a poor prognosis for the future discovery of new medicines.
Answers to health care challenges facing employers, government, and residents are not that simplistic. And our biotechnology industry faces increased national competition and needs more than lip service to meet its job growth and drug discovery potential. Leaders from other states delight in every attack on local biotech by prominent Massachusetts officials because they covet our life sciences leadership position.
On the flip side, House Speaker Thomas Finneran has had the courage to reject political expediency and speak out against importation in recognition of its negative effects on our local economy and on the search for answers to the ravages of disease. All elected officials should emulate Finneran's leadership on this issue.
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON
President
Mass. High Technology Council
Waltham
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
