Gov. Rod Blagojevich has brought the issue of prescription drug price disparity between the U.S. and Canada to the forefront of the political scene.

Earlier this week he called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse its policy on importing drugs from Canada to allow Illinois residents to import them.

"This is an opportunity to help people and tax payers in Illinois to save millions of dollars," said Abby Ottenhoff, a spokeswoman for Blagojevich.

But FDA legislation forbids the import of prescription drugs on the basis that they are unsafe because they could be counterfeit, expired, contaminated or otherwise unsafe, said William Hubbard, assistant commissioner for the FDA.

That doesn't stop people from seeking prescription drugs from Canada, where prescription drugs can be up to 50 percent cheaper than in the U.S. because of the Canadian government's price controls.

"It is indeed unfair," Hubbard said of the price controls, but added the FDA's job is to regulate safety and effectiveness.

FDA commissioner Mark McClellan is making drug-price concerns a high priority and will be meeting with the governor in the future to discuss the possibilities for this legislation, Hubbard said.

Susan Farner, associate professor of community health at the University, said she doesn't believe legalizing the import of prescription drugs from Canada is a good way to resolve the price disparity issue. She said it would not benefit everyone because the governor is trying to pass this legislation only for state and local governments.

"It would take business away from local pharmacies and it will hurt us in the long run," Farner said.

The FDA does not take legal action against all individuals who get their prescription drugs from Canada, recognizing that not everyone can afford to buy their prescriptions from the U.S.

The FDA has certain guidelines it follows when making the decision whether to take legal action against individuals who get their prescription drugs from Canada, according to their Web site. The FDA will likely not prosecute individuals if:

— The intended use is for a serious condition for which effective treatment may not be available domestically.

— The product is not considered to represent an unreasonable risk.

— The individual seeking to import the drug affirms in writing that it is for the patient's own use and provides the name and address of the U.S. licensed doctor responsible for his or her treatment with the drug or provides evidence that the drug is for continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country.

— The product is for personal use and is a three-month supply or less and not for resale.

— There is no known commercialization or promotion to U.S. residents by those involved in the distribution of the product.

Taking steps to resolve the price differential in prescription drugs between the U.S. and other countries, McClellan met with a group of pharmaceutical executives Thursday.

"Americans are being forced to choose between regulated drugs that are safe, and "buyer beware" drugs that are affordable. I don't think Americans or anyone in the world should have to settle for that choice," McClellan said in a speech Thursday posted to the FDA Web site. "The main reason prices are higher is that our country is paying the bulk of the costs of developing new treatments."

"If other nations more fairly share the cost of developing new drugs it will reduce the cost of prescription drugs in America," he said.