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New York joins Illinois in quest for
lower Rx prices
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[OCT. 30, 2003]
NEW YORK, N.Y. --
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg joined Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on
Wednesday in calling on the United States Food and Drug
Administration to permit states and cities to import prescription
drugs from Canada. New York City both directly and indirectly spends
billions of dollars on drugs costs each year; importation will save
the city up to $90 million per year on Medicaid drug costs alone.
New York City Health and Hospitals President Dr. Benjamin Chu,
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Thomas
Frieden and Human Resources Administration Commissioner Verna
Eggelston joined the mayor and Gov. Blagojevich at the press
conference at City Hall.
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As seniors and consumers
struggle to pay for the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, as
businesses find their health care costs rising faster than any other
expense, and as cities and states search for new ways to save money,
the idea of importing prescription drugs, manufactured in full
compliance with FDA regulations, from Canada has gained a great deal
of support over the past several months.
A new
report released by Gov. Blagojevich on Monday showed that
Canadian procedures for distributing and labeling prescription drugs
are equally as safe as those used here in the United States.
Consumers participating in the proposed Illinois plan could save
$1,000 each year.
"The rising costs of
prescription drugs is draining our city's coffers and bankrupting
our senior citizens," said Mayor Bloomberg. "I am proud to join
Governor Blagojevich's petition, and there is no reason why cities
and states should be denied the right to purchase safe prescription
drugs at reasonable prices. Too many of New York's seniors are
forced to make the terrible choice between food and their
prescription medication."
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"We found that consumers in our
program could save up to $1,008 per year, and total savings for the
state and consumers could reach $91 million," the Illinois governor
said. "At a time when our economy continues to struggle and when
cities and states desperately need help, $91 million is hard to pass
up. Perhaps not surprisingly, we also found that importing
prescription drugs from Canada is not only safe; in some cases, it's
even safer than purchasing prescription drugs here in the United
States. When you look at the facts, the FDA's excuse of safety is a
red herring.
"I want to thank Mayor
Bloomberg for joining us in this important fight. Having the largest
city in our nation behind this effort sends a powerful message to
Washington," Blagojevich said.
Illinois was the first state to petition the FDA to permit the
importation of prescription drugs from Canada, and Blagojevich
recently launched an electronic petition drive to help convince the
FDA to change their mind. Bloomberg, looking to help millions of
seniors and consumers in New York City afford the ever-rising cost
of prescription drugs, urged the FDA to change its position and
urged New Yorkers to sign Blagojevich's electronic petition. The
petition is available at
www.affordabledrugs.il.gov.
[Illinois
Government News Network
news release]
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