Despite strong opposition from the federal Food and Drug Administration, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday is expected to announce the creation of a network of pharmacies that would allow Illinois residents to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.State officials maintain that prescription drugs in Canada and Europe generally cost up to 50 percent less and that Illinois could work with foreign pharmacies that would meet state standards and provide safe medicine. The governor’s office said it would release a report Tuesday that was compiled after emissaries traveled to Europe to determine how much the state could save by importing drugs.
