Minnesota might look to Brits for prescription drugs

Thursday, May 6th 2004, 10:54 am

By: News On 6

ST. PAUL (AP) _ British pharmacies might be tapped by Minnesota officials through the same type of Web site now helping residents import cheaper drugs from two Canadian mail-order firms.

State Human Services Commissioner Kevin Goodno said Wednesday that pharmacies in England could be added to the Web site because some drug companies are restricting supplies to the Canadian pharmacies.

``We have a lot to learn about pharmacies in England or anywhere else before we would put them on our Web site,'' Goodno said. ``We want to make sure they would meet our standards.''

Since the state angered federal officials by launching the Web site Jan. 30, Minnesotans have filled 1,471 prescriptions through two Canadian pharmacies listed there, officials said Wednesday. The site has had 81,361 visitors.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he took the action because of the price disparity between the United States and Canada, and because high drug costs were forcing too many older or uninsured Minnesotans to forgo needed medications.

Under a system of government price controls and negotiations, Canadian brand-name drug prices average about half of U.S. prices.

On Tuesday, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he will send inspectors to Europe for two weeks to look at pharmacies in several countries. He said he may set up a Web site with links to Canadian and European pharmacies.

Federal officials, led by the Food and Drug Administration, have said importing drugs is illegal and unsafe, although they generally have allowed individuals to import drugs for their own use.