Trump inks prescription import plan
Push for cheaper medications cleared under executive order
Florida’s push to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada advanced Friday when President Donald Trump signed an executive order and took a moment to praise Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“You’ll go out and buy those drugs and save 50 or 60 percent for the people of Florida,” Trump said at the White House ceremony, where he alluded to the state being a coronavirus epicenter.
“One thing I’ll tell you about Ron … he handles pressure well.”
DeSantis, who attended the event with state House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, returned the compliment during brief remarks at a podium several feet away from the president.
“You were laser-focused on lowering drug prices for people, particularly our seniors in the state of Florida,” DeSantis told Trump. “We knew that this day would eventually come … the people of Florida want to thank you for siding with us on this.”
It is expected to take several months, at least, before consumers would see less expensive medications. The order must be carried out by the federal bureaucracy and could face court challenges.
As a candidate, DeSantis made Canadian drugs a key part of his health care agenda, and state lawmakers last year followed through with the creation of a prescription drug importation program. But it still required federal approval, and the governor had lobbied Trump, his political ally, to get behind it.
“We’re getting slaughtered, slaughtered by drug prices,” Trump said Friday. He has long complained that countries where the government sets the price of drugs are taking advantage of American consumers.
“We will finally allow the safe and legal importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries where the price for the identical drug is in
credibly lower,” he said. “It’s a difference like you wouldn’t believe, 70 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent, 30 percent, but massively lower.”
One of four executive orders Trump signed Friday, it allows states, wholesalers and pharmacies to import FDA-approved drugs from foreign countries and sell them in the U.S. It includes a special provision to allow wholesalers and pharmacies to re-import insulin and biological drugs.
But the pharmaceutical industry has said importation could undermine U.S. quality standards.
It fought Florida’s importation plan, blitzing the airwaves with ads opposing the bill. In a statement, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America called DeSantis’ plan a “reckless policy” that could have a “devastating impact on patient safety” by introducing counterfeit drugs into the market.
Canadian officials have expressed skepticism of the plan and concern it might lead to drug shortages or higher prices in their country. In Canada’s universal health care system, the prices of most patented drugs are set by the government and are much cheaper than in the U.S., where market forces drive prices higher.
Critics have contended that means American consumers are subsidizing cheaper drugs in other countries since companies can rely on high prices in the U.S. to drive profits.
Friday’s event was not the bill-signing the Trump administration had once envisioned. Trump came into office complaining that pharmaceutical companies were “getting away with murder” and promising to bring them under control. Nearly four years later, things are much the same despite some recent moderation in price increases.
A drive to pass major legislation this year stalled in Congress. Although Trump told Republican senators that lowering prescription prices is “something you have to do,” many remain reluctant to use federal authority to force drugmakers to charge less.