Friend of Trump claims to have facilitated efforts for reducing drug prices according to Trump's statements

Trump's Buddy's Wild Weight Loss Adventure Inspired His Crusade to Slash Drug Prices

Friend of Trump claims to have facilitated efforts for reducing drug prices according to Trump's statements

In a casual chat with Fox News' Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump dropped a tale about a pudgy buddy snaggin' a "fat shot" in London for a song, while the same drug costs a staggering thousand bucks in the US. This anecdote inspired Trump to take on big pharma and lower prescription drug prices for Americans.

Sittin' down with Hannity earlier this week, Trump shared how one of his slightly chubby mates managed to score a weight-loss drug for a fraction of US prices in the British capital. Trump described the unnamed bigwig as a "smart" and "wealthy" chap.

"He rang me up and said, 'Yo, somethin' strange happened. Picked up a pill, same company, same plant, same everything, it's all the same. In one case, paid in New York $1,300, in London, I'm only payin' $88.' He asked, 'What's goin' on?'", Trump recounted.

Trump told Hannity he ain't sugarcoated it for his buddy and that he's bringin' the drug laws to task. "I said, 'Mate, they're screwed up, and I'm doin' somethin' about it.' He said, 'You better, 'cause this is bollocks.' He didn't get it, didn't understand why, but now he does, saw our press conference this mornin'," Trump added.

The presser Trump referred to was one held Monday where he unveiled an executive order to bring American drug prices go eye-to-eye with those abroad. He elaborated on this friend's tale during the presser.

Prescription drugs gather dust on a shelf at NYC Discount Pharmacy in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Trump told Hannity the steep price disparity between the US and overseas is down to the "bite of the drug companies" but "mostly it's the callousness of other nations to screw the United States of America."

For the record, the executive order Trump signed instructed the US trade rep andsec.commerce to "take steps to ensure foreign countries ain't awkwardly undercuttin' prices and jackin' 'em up over here". Some of its other measures included plunkin' "price targets" on drugmakers to ensure America gets the best bang for its buck and establishin' a means for Americans to buy meds straight from manufacturers at the "Most-Favored-Nation" price.

Trump also took aim at so-called "middlemen" (pharmacy benefit managers).

Trump claimed Americans will see a "50 to 90% reduction" in drug prices through the tactics the administration is cookin' up.

In a report released early last year, Rand found the price of prescription drugs was 2.78 times more on average in the US than those in 33 other countries.

As for Trump's overweight buddy, it turns out his tale ain't straight up related to the prescription drug problem or the reasons behind the higher costs here compared to other countries. Still, it's an interesting yarn nonetheless! 👨‍🦽💊💰😲😜

Enrichment Data:

The Hidden Clues Behind Sky-High Prescription Drug Costs

Have you ever wondered why prescription drug prices in the US are so much higher compared to other countries? Here's a lowdown:

1. Lack of Price Controls: With fewer price control mechanisms in the US, drug companies have more leeway to set prices based on market conditions. This often leads to higher prices.

2. Research & Development (R&D) Costs: The US bears a significant portion of the global R&D costs for new drugs. This financial burden is passed on to consumers through higher drug costs.

3. Profit Motives: As a major market for pharmaceutical companies, the US is an appealing target for higher profits. Drug companies might be hesitant to lower prices here to ensure continued profitability.

4. Complex Healthcare System: The US healthcare system has numerous players, from drug companies to healthcare providers to insurance companies. This complexity can lead to higher prices as each player seeks to maximize their profits.

5. Regulatory Environment: In comparison to other countries, the US is less restrictive regarding drug pricing and pharmaceutical advertising, which can contribute to higher prices due to increased marketing and distribution costs.

President Trump's Plan of Attack: Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) Pricing

President Trump has proposed implementing "most-favored-nation" (MFN) pricing, hoping to keep US drug prices in line with international prices. MFN aims to ensure that the US pays no more for drugs than the lowest price paid by other developed countries. However, critics contend that this approach may cause drug prices to rise in other countries to sustain the US market's profit levels.

1. The steep disparity between drug prices in the United States and other countries is attributed largely to the lack of price controls in the US, which allows drug companies to set prices based on market conditions.
2. In response to soaring prescription drug costs, President Donald Trump announced an executive order aiming to bring American drug prices closer to those abroad by implementing Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) pricing.
3. The proposed MFN pricing could potentially impact health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and policy-and-legislation, as it aims to lower prescription drug prices through comparisons with prices in other developed nations. Such a policy could have implications for the general-news, as well as the nutritional and fitness aspects of a healthier lifestyle.

Read also: