The odds are high that everyone knows someone who relies on an essential medication like insulin or an inhaler to stay healthy. And yet, at a time when more than half of Americans worry about affording those very medications, Big Pharma continues to drive up the cost of prescription drugs.
As many of us know all too well, these increases place an undue burden on fellow Alabamians. Just recently, pharmaceutical companies raised prices on over 800 prescription drugs, and they do this often without clinical justification. We must hold Big Pharma accountable for putting profits over people.
The numbers don’t lie—Big Pharma is the biggest culprit behind rising healthcare costs. Despite having full control over their pricing, pharmaceutical companies inflate drug costs far beyond what’s reasonable.
A study by the RAND Corporation found that Americans pay nearly three times more for prescription drugs than patients in other countries. Take the rise of GLP-1 medications, for example, used for diabetes management and weight loss.
While these drugs cost under $5 per month to manufacture, Americans are charged upwards of $1,000 each month, creating windfall profits for Big Pharma at the expense of struggling families in Alabama and beyond.
Beyond pricing, Big Pharma has mastered the art of political influence. The revolving door relationship between pharmaceutical corporations and federal regulators allows them to avoid oversight and maintain their control on the market.
While Alabama families are forced to ration medications, Big Pharma continues to reap the benefits of tax loopholes, paying a mere 10% in taxes in 2022—all while spending billions more on advertising than research and development.
This is not a partisan issue—conservatives and independents alike recognize the need for action. Alabama families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and affording lifesaving medications.
Senator Katie Britt is proudly fighting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with the current Administration to help “Make America Healthy Again” when it comes to these issues. We need our leaders in Congress, including Senator Britt, to continue to push back against the unchecked power of Big Pharma and advance policies that rein them in. It is time to protect hardworking families.
The Trump administration and the 119th Congress have a real opportunity to take meaningful action.
We must demand transparency, accountability, and fairness in prescription drug pricing. Alabama’s congressional delegation must step up and champion conservative, free-market solutions that promote competition, reduce monopolistic control, and put an end to the revolving door between Big Pharma and government regulators.
The time for action is now. Join me in calling on our lawmakers to cap prescription drug prices, eliminate corporate tax loopholes that benefit Big Pharma, and ensure that Alabama families can afford the medications they need to live healthy, productive lives.
Vicki Self Bailey lives in Trussville, Alabama, and is the former President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women.
