By Sean Crawford, IL Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-530512.mp3
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's program to import prescription drugs from other countries, called ISaveRX, is illegal and potentially dangerous. Those are the findings in a newly released state audit.
Its aim is to bring cheaper medication to Illinois and a lot of money has been spent to promote it, but it hasn't really caught on with the public.
Illinois Public Radio's Sean Crawford prepared this report.
SECOND AUDIT CRITICIZES VACCINE BUY
Auditor General William Holland also audited a deal by which the governor's office agreed to buy $2.6 million in foreign flu vaccine last year even after the governor's aides told him federal officials wouldn't let it into the country.
Holland's conclusion is that the Blagojevich administration knew the vaccine couldn't be imported and that the federal government had enough vaccine for Illinois' needs. But state officials signed a January 2005 contract anyway.
In the end, Illinoisans couldn't use the vaccine, so the governor donated it to Pakistan after the earthquake. The state's comptroller refused to pay for the vaccine and the supplier is now suing Illinois.