Illinois expands drug suppliers beyond Canada in nod to availability probl

[CHIMO]

WASHINGTON (CP) - In a nod to the reality that Canada can't begin to provide all the cheaper prescription drugs Americans want, Illinois is adding European suppliers.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Tuesday that he'll help consumers save money through a state-run website offering drugs from the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as Canada. "We can't keep asking people to spend more money than they have just to afford the medicine they need," Blagojevich said in a statement.

"And they shouldn't have to keep waiting for their government to help them. The federal government has failed to act. So it's time that we do."

The Illinois move, illegal under U.S. federal law, acknowledges the fact that six major drug makers are already limiting supplies to Canadian pharmacies serving Americans in a bid to staunch bleeding profits

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/040817/w081772.html

[Tatiana]

1. Kicking

This is BIG! Blagojevich is basically challenging federal law in an effort to bring cheaper drugs to Illinoisans. This takes balls and I applaud him for it!