More cities, states opt for Canadian drugs

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More cities, states opt for Canadian drugs

A growing number of cities, counties and states say they want to allow employees, retirees and ordinary citizens to purchase prescription drugs from Canada, where prices are lower because the government controls what drugmakers can charge.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois asked for federal permission to set up a pilot program that would import medications from Canada.

Many legal observers say the FDA may have little recourse but to fight each city and state.

If enough cities and states enact cross-border drug programs, it will prompt Congress to change drug law and bring costs for medicine in the USA down to the level they are in the rest of the world.

Why should the U.S. pay twice as much as what everyone else does?

Some lawmakers want to make it easier for residents to bring drugs in from Canada.

The FDA has made a move to halt one city's program. After Springfield, Mass., began offering its cross-border drug program earlier this year, the FDA sent warning letters.

Supporters of Canadian drug purchases say the safety issue is misleading. Drugs from Canada, they say, are just as safe as drugs bought in the USA.

Drugs from Canada must be at least 20% cheaper than what can be found locally to be included on the city's list. Downes says most of the drugs cost 40% to 60% less than in the United States.

The program has been so successful in saving money, Downes says, that a 15% co-payment that patients were charged was dropped in November. So employees who choose to get their drugs through Canada get them free.