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There's been considerable media coverage of late about the Trump administration's efforts to reduce government waste and rein in government spending. While this may appease some of the electorate, it's not immediately improving the lives of everyday Americans or resulting in any household budgetary windfalls. For many, it's having the opposite impact.
This begs the question -- what would have a nearly instantaneous and positive impact on a majority of Americans?
Simply put -- let's make prescription drugs affordable. Over the past decade, the price of some life-saving medications has increased astronomically -- some by as much as 500%.
Presently, we need to only look at the increased cost of GLP-1 medications -- drugs that are used for weight loss and diabetes management throughout the world. Researchers at Yale found that GLP-1 medications cost less than $25 per month to manufacture, yet Americans -- and only Americans -- are charged upwards of $1,000 per month. The truth is U.S. consumers are often charged more than triple the price for the same drugs in comparison to other developed nations.
Republicans and Democrats alike need access to affordable health care, and a big obstacle in making that a reality is the unchecked and monopolistic price gouging that Big Pharma has been allowed to implement for years.
Drug manufacturers spend millions more on advertising and marketing than on research and development while also receiving considerable tax breaks. Moreover, drug companies aggressively oppose commonsense, consumer-friendly legislation that would lower the cost of prescription drugs simply because it negatively impacts their bottom line.
Congress, as well as the Trump administration, needs to acknowledge the cost burden Americans are shouldering when it comes to filling their prescriptions. Now is the time for Congress to pass reforms that cap drug prices and prohibit Big Pharma from running roughshod over the American people.
Jerry Brant
Patton