Naloxone has been available without a prescription in the U.S. since last year.Action News, AccuWeather and EntertainmentCalifornia will soon begin selling its own generic version of Narcan - the drug that can save someone's life during an opioid overdose - under a deal announced Monday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as part of his effort to offer less expensive, state-branded options of medication.
"Anywhere that has a first aid kit, we hope that this product will be available as part of that," said Elizabeth Landsberg, director of the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information, which is overseeing the program. "Federal and state governments can and should use their power as regulators and as purchasers," said Anthony Wright, president of the consumer advocacy group Health Access California. "Americans paying out-of-pocket for prescription drugs pay more than anyone else in the world, but if government can use our collective power of the purse through direct contracts and manufacturing, we can get better deals not just for taxpayers, but patients and the public as a whole.
The deal is significant because it means California will be able to buy a lot more naloxone - 3.2 million packs in one year instead of 2 million - for the same total cost.
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