GOP Platform ignores cause, solution for high prescription drug prices.Donald Trump urged: Move GOP to adopt his stance for Personal Importation

ST. LOUIS, MO, USA, July 19, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The publisher of RxforAmericanHealth says that the Republican Party Platform Committee fails the American public that is facing the harmful effects of not having access to vital prescription drugs because they are unaffordable.

Daniel Hines notes that the Committee actually removes Pharma from any responsibility for the drug prices that have been the subject of continued public outcry for 16 months by claiming that it is Obamacare that has forced Pharma to raise its prices.

“The truth is that Pharma charges what the traffic will bear,” says Hines. “That they continue to do so in the face of negative news stories, a perception that they are gouging the American public, Congressional investigations, and the fact that U.S. drug prices were the highest in the Industrialized World before Obamacare and remain so today, is evidence of the pervasive influence of Pharma upon policy-makers.

“This is an insult to the millions of Americans who can’t afford their medicines because of the predatory pricing practices of Pharma that have led to Americans paying the highest prices for their medicines in the world, making prescription drugs a major driver of total health care costs.”

Hines notes that while the GOP Platform views Pharma as the ‘victim’ being forced to raise prescription drug prices by Obamacare, ironically it was passed because of the many behind-the-door deals made with Pharma.

Hines notes that platform submissions reflecting the need for provisions outlines in the blog AmericanRxBillofRights were made to both the Democrat and Republican Platform Planning Committees.


“Both were tailored to reflect the particular political philosophies of each Party, in a manner showing how certain tenets of what might seem to be differences actually could provide a basis from which to reach consensus, “ Hines explains.

He says it is more disconcerting when the GOP failure to present even a basic consideration of and reaction to the many bi-partisan proposals that have been brought forth over the years to lower prescription drug costs is put up against the Democrat Party Platform, which presents specific proposals to lower prescription drug prices.

These include an end to pay-for-delay tactics of Pharma to keep lower-priced generics off the market; personal importation of safe, affordable prescription medicines from licensed, registered pharmacies in Canada and other ‘comparable’ (Tier One Countries) where the standards of Safety and Efficacy meet or exceed those of the U.S.; greater ‘stakeholder’ rights for the general public; and price negotiation for Medicare drugs.

Hines says the issue is not one of partisanship, noting that many Republicans have over the year supported such measures to lower prescription drug costs.

“Most significantly, Candidate Donald Trump has expressed his support for personal importation of prescription medicines and price negotiation to lower prescription drug costs,” Hines points out.

“The challenge now is for him to clearly identify his stance on healthcare and related-issues such as prescription drug costs. If he acts to ensure the inclusion and Party acceptance of his previously announced stance, it will be a welcomed sign of a commitment to making safe, affordable prescription medicines available to millions of Americans.

“The alternative—signing-off on the GOP Platform Committee ill-founded reasoning of why prescription drug costs are high is unacceptable and likely could have severe political recriminations in Election 2016 since at one time or another in our lives, virtually every American of some member of their family will require medications.”

Hines concluded with two observations:
“The truth is that Pharma charges what the traffic will bear. While the GOP Platform views Pharma as the ‘victim’ being forced to raise prescription drug prices by Obamacare, which ironically was passed because of the many behind-the-door deals made with Pharma, two hard truths remain: (1) A prescription medicine that is unaffordable is, in and of itself, unavailable because of that unaffordability; (2) And, As Stephen Schondelmeyer, Ph.D., drug pricing expert and head of the University of Minnesota Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems says, “A drug that’s not affordable is neither safe nor effective.”

Daniel Hines
TodaysSeniorsNetwork
6363992849
email us here

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.