CHICAGO, IL.—Today U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) unveiled his new Canadian Drug Cost Comparison Website and called on Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson to include information about drug prices in Canada and Europe on the Medicare.gov website.  Emanuel will update his website regularly with cost comparisons between prescription drugs in Chicago and around the world.

Emanuel called on Secretary Thompson to add foreign price comparisons to the Medicare.gov site, saying, “Because you are obviously committed to using your site to bring downward pressure on U.S. drug prices, I am calling on you to include on the website information about drug prices in Canada and Europe.  As drug prices in these countries are often 30% to 80% lower than those in the U.S., the inclusion of these prices on the site would intensify the pressure on pharmaceutical manufacturers, encouraging them to lower prices here in the U.S.”

Emanuel’s site debuted with a comparison between drug prices from Costco pharmacies in Chicago and prices at Costco pharmacies in Toronto, Canada.  “Celebrex, for arthritis – costs $139.49 in Canada, $259.27 in the U.S—$119.78 cheaper in Canada.  Zocor, for high cholesterol, is $242.09 in Canada, $401.97 here—$159.88 cheaper in Canada.  As you can see, the differences are striking.” 

The website also contains two key ways for citizens to “Take Action on Importation.”  First, Chicagoans can log on and submit the drug prices that they pay in both Canada and Chicago.

Secondly, today the HHS Task Force on Drug Importation holds its first, possibly last, public meeting, and Americans have an opportunity to take part in the process.  There is a link on Emanuel’s site for Chicagoans to submit their comments to the task force anytime before June 1.

“Submit your comments to the Task Force,” Emanuel said.  “Tell them you know that the same high-quality prescription drugs you buy here are available in other countries for 30 to 80 percent less, and that importation can be a safe and effective way to bring lower drug prices to the U.S.”

According to recent studies, Americans know that the prices they pay for prescription drugs are unfair.  Two thirds of Americans believe they should be able to purchase prescription drugs from other countries.  Millions of Americans have taken matters into their own hands by buying drugs from Canada. 

“We need to keep fighting.  We won’t rest until Americans can stop splitting their pills and skipping doses, and can afford world class drugs at world market prices.  I urge all of my constituents to help update the cost comparison website, and to give their comments to the importation task force,” Emanuel said.

To view this week’s price comparisons of prescription drugs from Costco stores in Chicago and Canada, visit www.house.gov/emanuel/prescriptiondrugs.  From that page, the link to the FDA public comment site will be available.

LINK--Letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson