FDA Head Praises Plan to Reduce Prescription Medication Costs
The head of the Food and Drug Administration praised a plan announced by the White House to reduce the costs of prescription medication, calling it a "big step" to make medication more affordable for Americans. The plan, announced by President Trump, involves a new purchase platform called Trumprx, which will enable American patients to buy prescription medication at significantly discounted prices.
Trumprx Purchase Platform
The President announced that Pfizer, a major drug manufacturer, had agreed to participate in the Trumprx platform, offering countless prescription drugs at serious discounts in the United States. Pfizer is the first of many drug manufacturers to agree to offer strong discounts to all Americans through Trumprx, which will pay the lowest prices paid by European countries.
Impact on Healthcare Costs
Dr. Marty Makary, a surgeon and expert in healthcare costs, told CBS News that the agreement between the Trump administration and Pfizer will help to address the broader problem of healthcare costs in the United States. "By tackling the outrageous drug prices, we’re actually addressing the bigger problem of healthcare costs in the United States," Makary said.
Savings on Prescription Medication
According to Pfizer, Trumprx will achieve savings of up to 85% for certain medications, such as Duavee, a medication that treats symptoms of menopause. The sticker price of Duavee is $203 per month, but with Trumprx, it will cost $30 per month. Another example is Xeljanz, a Pfizer medication for arthritis, which currently costs $6,000 per month but will cost around $3,600 with Trumprx.
Concerns and Criticisms
However, some experts have expressed concerns that the plan may not reduce costs for most Americans. Stacie Dusetzina, an expert in the prescription medication industry, said that the President’s plan will not reduce costs for most Americans, as many people have health insurance that already covers their medication costs. Sean Sullivan, a health economist, also expressed doubts about how much the program would help Americans save, noting that most patients have drug coverage and few will buy medication with cash.
Patient Experience
Sarah Wisniewski, a woman living with multiple sclerosis, has struggled to afford her medication despite having good insurance. She is skeptical of the new Trumprx program, saying that it feels like a "toothless, symbolic statement" instead of having real, long-term effects on the lives of clinically ill patients. Makary acknowledged that the program is just the beginning of a solution, saying that "every year we throw good money into a broken system after a bad system in which we pay more and more for drugs."
