NEW YORK: The Trump administration on Wednesday said it is proposing a rule to allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada, moving forward a plan announced this summer that the president has said will bring cheaper prescription drugs to Americans.
"Today's announcement is the latest empty gesture from our elected lawmakers who want us to believe they're serious about lowering patients’ prescription drug costs," Greenwood said.The Canadian government also has criticized the plan. The country's ambassador said last month that importing medicines from Canada would not significantly lower U.S. prices. Reuters previously reported that Canada had warned U.S.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Wednesday, Azar said Canadians' cheaper drug prices were the result of a free ride off of American investment and innovation. U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has struggled to deliver on a pledge to lower drug prices before the November 2020 election. Healthcare costs are expected to be a major focus of the campaign by Trump and Democratic rivals vying to run against him.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are putting forth drug pricing bills that contain some of the proposals Trump has advocated, such as indexing public drug reimbursements to foreign drug costs.