|
Gov. Blagojevich calls on President Bush to
take a firm position on importing prescription drugs
Send a link to a friend
[AUG. 20, 2004]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod
Blagojevich has called on President Bush to take a firm position on
the issue of importing prescription drugs from other industrialized
countries where they cost significantly less. The governor's
comments Thursday came a day after the president acknowledged, "If
it's safe, it makes sense," but then warned that his administration
was still studying the issue.
|
|
"More than a million Americans buy
their medications from Canada and other countries every year because
they can't afford the prices here in the United States -- and not
one person has been injured or killed as a result. Why? Because they
are the exact same medications that we use here in the United
States; they just cost half as much. The FDA and the Bush
administration know this, yet they continue to raise the safety
issue in order to avoid making a change that would be unpopular with
the pharmaceutical industry," said the governor.
Last December, Gov. Blagojevich
appealed to Secretary Tommy Thompson, Bush's appointed head of the
Department of Health and Human Services, requesting a waiver to
develop a pilot program to import a limited list of prescription
drugs from Canada. The governor sought to partner with the Food and
Drug Administration to study importation on a limited scale. The
governor's request was denied.
Since that time, four states have
established websites that link their citizens to Canadian
pharmacies. The FDA has not taken action against any of the states.
[to top of second column in
this article]
 |
Illinois continued its efforts to
review the safety and feasibility of giving its citizens access to
imported prescription drugs, sending a delegation of experts to
Europe to review the European Union's policies and practices.
This week, Gov. Blagojevich announced
Illinois' plans to contract with a Canadian pharmacy benefits
manager to establish a network of state-inspected and approved
pharmacies and wholesalers in Canada, Ireland and the United
Kingdom. His plan is expected to save Illinois residents up to 50
percent on eligible medications. [For details, see articles listed
below.]
"The Bush
administration refuses to work with the many states and cities
across the country that are trying to help their citizens afford the
medications they need. And now the president says it makes sense to
import drugs if it can be done safely. It's already being done, and
the FDA has done nothing to help make it safer. That's why Illinois
is taking the step of establishing and inspecting its own network of
foreign pharmacies," the governor said. "I urge the president to
stop studying and to start helping."
[News release from the
governor's office]
Related articles
 |
