Advocates ‘Concerned’ China Tariffs Will Cause Already Rising Drug Prices To Increase Even More
Experts are trying to unpack the implications of placing tariffs on the world's largest supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients will have on U.S. drug prices. While there are many layers to take into account, some worry it will exacerbate an already daunting problem.
Stat:
Will The Trump Tariffs On China Raise Drug Prices For Americans?
Now that the Trump administration has proposed 25 percent tariffs on thousands of Chinese-made products, including raw ingredients for a slew of medicines, there are concerns that prices for these products may rise, although experts caution the long-term impact remains unclear. Among the medicines that could be affected are insulin, epinephrine, heparin, antibiotics, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and vaccines, according to the list released by the U.S. trade representative. However, the agency cautioned that the list, which also includes numerous raw ingredients, is incomplete and not intended to “delimit, in any way, the scope of the proposed action.” (Silverman, 4/4)
In other national health care news —
The Hill:
AMA: Mattis Memo Distorted Medical Evidence On Transgender Troops
The country’s largest medical organization Wednesday told Defense Secretary James Mattis that it believes his recommendations on excluding most transgender people from military service “mischaracterized and rejected” evidence on treatment for gender dysphoria. “We believe there is no medically valid reason — including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria — to exclude transgender individuals from military service,” American Medical Association (AMA) CEO James Madara wrote in a letter to Mattis. “Transgender individuals have served, and continue to serve, our country with honor, and we believe they should be allowed to continue doing so.” (Kheel, 4/4)
The Washington Post:
People Can’t Be Educated Into Vaccinations, But Behavioral Nudges Help, Study Finds
Vaccines were one of the great inventions of modern history. They helped stop America’s polio epidemic in the 1950s, when it was paralyzing thousands and killing at least 3,000 a year. They have prevented the deaths of millions worldwide from diseases such as diphtheria, smallpox, measles and tetanus. And yet many people are reluctant to get their shots or vaccinate their children. (Wan, 4/4)
Stat:
Drug Makers Still Have A Bad Reputation Among Patient Groups
Just 45 percent of patient groups thought the pharmaceutical industry had an “excellent” or “good” reputation last year. Despite the poor showing, however, this is still an improvement — albeit, a modest one — from the 38 percent of patient groups that offered the same assessment in 2016, according to PatientView, a research firm that canvassed more than 1,300 patient groups from 95 countries. (Silverman, 4/5)