Drug prices must be brought under control

It should be noted that the National Retiree Legislative Network has for many years been advocating for all of the items listed in President Donald Trump's July 2020 executive order to reduce the price of prescription drugs.

The network has lobbied members of the House and Senate to pass legislation in support of its proposals:

■ legislation that will allow safe and less expensive drugs to be imported from Canada;

■ legislation to remove the prohibition on Medicare negotiating prescription drug prices and to replace it with a competitive bidding mandate to be applied whenever two or more Food & Drug Administration-approved drugs ( generic, brand or patent-expired brand) treat the same medical condition; and

■ legislation to end pay-for-delay and other drugmaker tactics that keep generic drugs off the market.

While some movement has taken place, Congress must act because executive orders can never replace congressional action. This nation is tired of paying double or more of what many other countries are paying for the same drugs from the same manufacturers. It is time that a bipartisan House and Senate joint committee generate a bill covering these matters, have it approved by Congress and signed by the president — the sooner the better for seniors as well as the general population.

Joe Wichtowski

Wilmington District leader, National Retiree Legislative Network