Illinois launches website, petition to challenge FDA

[Guest guest]

Illinois launches website, petition to challenge FDA

 

Web site for drug importation latest move by Blagojevich

by Maura Kelly

Chicago Tribune staff reporter

Published October 14, 2003, 4:36 PM CDT

 

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is enlisting the help of consumers in his high-

profile battle with the Food and Drug Administration over a proposal

to import drugs from Canada for state employees and retirees.

 

On Tuesday, he launched a Web site that includes information about

buying prescription drugs from companies in Canada to take advantage

of lower prices there.

 

He also encouraged consumers to fill out an online petition in

support of the proposal and appeared on NBC's " Today " show to discuss

the idea, which the FDA and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert

oppose.

 

" The FDA can continue to ignore our pleas. The FDA can continue to

ignore our letters. They can ignore our calls, " Blagojevich said at a

news conference. " But they cannot ignore the people forever. "

 

The launching of the Web site and petition is the latest move by

Blagojevich to persuade Congress to allow Illinois to import drugs

from Canada, where brand-name drugs often cost less than in the

United States because of government price controls and a favorable

exchange rate.

 

Illinois spent $340 million on prescription drugs for its employees

and retirees last fiscal year, up 15 percent from a year earlier.

 

But federal law prevents bringing foreign drugs into the country. The

FDA warns that buying Canadian drugs presents significant, potential

health risks.

 

" You really can't trade safety for a price, " said Peter Pitts, FDA

spokesman.

 

" He (Blagojevich) can target whomever he likes. But at the end of the

day, Congress makes the laws and the FDA enforces the law, " he said.

 

Last month, Blagojevich commissioned a study on the merits of letting

state employees and retirees buy drugs from Canadian companies. Four

days later, he publicly urged the FDA to allow state and local

governments to import drugs from Canada and solicited support for his

idea from the nation's other governors.

 

A week later, he lobbied Congress on the idea. He also has asked

Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office to look into whether drug

manufacturers are illegally blocking access to cheaper prescription

drugs from Canada.

 

Last week, an 11-member delegation of Illinois health and policy

officials visited Canada as part of the study on the issue. The

governor said he expects the study, which should be finished by the

end of October, to show the idea is sound.

 

" We're not going to violate what the FDA's rules are, but we are

going to try to get the FDA to change its position and one way to do

it is through the United States Congress, " Blagojevich said. " The

Congress doesn't act or doesn't change things unless they hear from

the people back home. "

 

The petition is addressed to the FDA and members of Congress.

 

The Web site includes information about the differences between

American and Canadian drug prices, activity in Congress on the issue

and editorials in support of drug importation efforts. The site,

www.affordabledrugs.il.gov, also contains a price comparison chart of

drugs bought in the United States and Canada.

 

Jeffrey Trewhitt, a spokesman for the drug industry trade group

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said the

petition should not make a difference in changing the law.

 

" It's very important that we all stop and listen carefully to what

the Food and Drug Administration is saying. They are saying there is

a serious safety issue, " he said.

 

On the Net:

 

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/

 

Petition site: http://www.affordabledrugs.il.gov

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-031014prescriptions-

story,1,4430373.story?coll=chi-news-hed

 

------------------

 

Laura