Doyle touts Canadian drug Web site Gov James Doyle talks about Wisconsin's expanded prescription drug savings website during a stop at the Aging Resource Center of Brown County Thursday (photo by H. Marc Larson). He goes after the feds for obstructing access By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Mixing promotion for a new prescription drug Web site with shots at the federal government, Gov. Jim Doyle told an audience at the Brown County Aging Resource Center on Thursday he felt it was time to take action to help state residents. The Web site, at www.drugsavings.wi.gov, connects state residents with pharmacies in Canada where drug prices often are lower. The site only allows sales of refills on brand-name "maintenance" drugs, which are filled by the Canadian pharmacies via mail order. Doyle said the state was acting against the federal government, which was trying to stop the practice. "If the federal government won't do anything to help our citizens with the high price of prescription drugs, then Wisconsin will act on its own," he said. Since it was announced last week, the site has received more than 36,000 separate individual visits. Site users must first get a prescription filled at a local pharmacy to allow for any individual reactions to be treated by a doctor as needed. Only refills are processed after that, and only of brand-name drugs. "Generic drugs actually cost less in Wisconsin than they do in Canada," Doyle said. Some drugs are not available - narcotics and other controlled substances, for example, as well as items that require refrigeration. Doyle emphasized the state had looked into the pharmacies used to ensure quality. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against using Canadian sources because of safety concerns, and drug manufacturers have claimed some Canadian sources are sending expired medicine or lower dosages than claimed. "The fact is that if any of us were in Canada and became ill, would we have any concern that we were any less safe in Canada?" the governor asked. "We have taken steps to make sure this process is as safe as possible." He said he could understand objections from drug companies, but not from the feds. "Wisconsin and Minnesota - the two states who have moved forward with this - are constantly being criticized by the federal government, with threats and other things saying they are going to try to stop this effort," Doyle said. "It's time for the Bush administration to stop siding with the drug lobby and start siding with Wisconsin citizens." Washington, however, has said it will not go after individuals who purchase drugs from Canada, and the Web site is designed with that in mind, Doyle said. The transactions are between individuals and pharmacies, with the state's role limited to looking into the pharmacies, providing the information and in a few cases negotiating lower prices. "The state is not making any purchase," he said. "We are saying to the people of Wisconsin Ôyou have a choice.' We're helping a little bit." The site also includes a variety of other options and information, especially aimed at seniors, and a petition to Congress and the FDA urging them to provide access to Canadian drugs.