On Thursday, US President Donald Trump launched a self-branded “TrumpRx” website that enables customers to purchase inexpensive medications, including infertility and weight-loss therapies, straight from manufacturers.
The action is a part of Trump’s effort to address voters’ dissatisfaction with living expenses in advance of the November midterm elections, which might cause his Republicans to lose control of Congress.
“Dozens of the most popular prescription drugs will be available at dramatic discounts for all consumers starting tonight,” Trump declared during a White House event.
“Americans have been paying the highest drug prices in the world for a long time… the American people were essentially subsidizing the cost of drugs for the entire world.”
Trump said that pharmaceutical behemoths Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly had agreed to provide their well-liked but pricey GLP-1 weight-loss medications on the website at “drastic discounts.”
According to Trump, Eli Lilly’s Wegovy would drop from $1,300 to $199 a month, while Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic would drop from over $1,000 to $199. The website stated that after the first two months, prices will progressively increase.
During the event, officials brought a woman up on stage who they claimed was the first to use TrumpRx to get a less expensive reproductive treatment drug.
Mehmet Oz, a TV physician who currently serves as Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stated as he introduced her, “We’re gonna have a lot of Trump babies with these costs.”
According to the White House, the website is launched with discounts on over 40 well-known medications. Customers can look for the drug they desire, print a coupon, and show it at a pharmacy to purchase it at a reduced cost.
In order to get leading pharmaceutical corporations to commit to “Most Favored Nation” pricing, which is equivalent to the lowest price offered in other affluent countries, Trump has announced a number of pricing agreements.
In return, the businesses have been given incentives, such as reprieve from the crippling tariffs that Trump has imposed on other nations since taking office again last year.
Additionally, Trump has pressured some nations, such as France and Britain, to reach agreements on pharmaceutical prices; the US president has frequently made fun of French President Emmanuel Macron’s objections to the matter.
Trump has been working to lower consumer expenses in the run-up to this year’s midterm elections, even though he first dismissed voter worries about affordability as a “hoax” by the Democrats.
Given that Trump’s support ratings are poor, especially when it comes to the economy, Republicans fear they may lose control of Congress.
In the meantime, Trump has cautioned that losing the midterm elections will probably result in his third impeachment.
