No longer awaiting government approval, Illinois Governor Rod Blagoevich announced a state program that would allow Illinois residents to purchase prescription drugs at a cheaper rate from pre-screened pharmacies in Canada, England and Ireland. This state program is the first of its kind to help Illinois residents purchase prescriptions from Europe.

The move was pushed forward as the result of the drug industry's successful actions to stop Canadian pharmacies from offering drugs to U.S. residents.

Worried about safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration advised the cities participating in the program to put a stop on their efforts. The FDA also referred to the actions of the state as both illegal and unsafe.

How the Program Works

• Illinois residents will use either a Web site or toll-free phone number to buy around 100 products the state has predetermined could be safely shipped outside the United States

• Requirements for the Illinois residents include enrolling in the program then submitting a prescription and an in-state mailing address

• Foreign pharmacies will be monitored by state officials

The governor predicted the prescription savings for the consumer would range between 25 percent to 50 percent off U.S. retail prices. For example, the commonly prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug Lipitor that costs $214 in the United States would cost $144 to $162 in Europe or Canada.

USA Today August 19, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

I am very impressed that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is taking a very active step against drug company profits. As he said, "We have taken every possible step we could think of to convince the FDA, and convince the Congress, and anyone and everyone who will listen, that people across Illinois, and across our country, deserve access to safe and lower cost prescription drugs." It is unclear to me at this time if citizens of other states will be able to access this program, but it is very possible they will be able to, thus circumventing the roadblocks that were set up by the federal government that was clearly heavily lobbied by the drug industry. While I am no fan of using drugs, occasionally they are required and I perceive this step as a huge consumer victory. Related Articles: Prescription Drug Sales Increased By Nearly 20% Last Year in US The Frightening Road Ahead for Prescription Drugs and the Implications for 'Real' Alternative Health Drug Companies Triple Money on Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads Why Would You Take a Drug Because a Celebrity Promotes It? Use of Anti-Anxiety Drugs Jumps in U.S. Eighty Percent of US Adults Take At Least One Drug a Week