Chicago
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich this week ordered his staff to study whether the state could buy prescription drugs from Canada for state employees. Illinois’ spending on medicine jumped 15 percent this year, to $340 million. Identical prescriptions can be 67 percent more expensive in the U.S. than in Canada, so the switch could save millions. The Food and Drug Administration warns that drugs from abroad could be expired, untested, or otherwise dangerous. Still, cash-strapped jurisdictions are pursuing the option. Springfield, Mass., began buying Canadian drugs for its workers this summer, and Pittsfield, Mass., may follow suit. “I don’t see Canadians dropping dead from their prescriptions,” said Pittsfield Mayor Sara Hathaway.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Will there be peace before Christmas in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Discussions over the weekend could see a unified set of proposals from EU, UK and US to present to Moscow
-
Quiz of The Week: 6 – 12 DecemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
The week’s best photosIn Pictures A man's best friend, the elephants in the room, and more
