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| President Trump launched TrumpRX website offering low cost prescription drugs/photo/AFP |
Speaking at an event at the White House on Thursday night, Februar 5, Trump said the TrumpRx.gov platform would allow consumers to obtain commonly used medications at significantly reduced prices by linking them directly to drugmakers’ discount programmes.
“Starting tonight, dozens of the most commonly used prescription drugs will be available at dramatic discounts for all consumers,” Trump said, adding that Americans have long paid higher drug prices than people in other parts of the world.
The initiative is part of Trump’s broader effort to address rising living costs as the country heads toward midterm elections in November, where Republicans face the risk of losing control of Congress.
Trump announced that pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk had agreed to offer major discounts on their popular but costly GLP-1 weight-loss drugs through the platform. Under the programme, Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic will reportedly drop from over $1,000 per month to $199, while Eli Lilly’s Wegovy will fall from about $1,300 to $199. According to the website, prices will gradually increase after an initial two-month period.
During the event, officials introduced a woman described as the first user of TrumpRx, who was able to access a reduced-cost fertility medication through the programme. Mehmet Oz, the television personality and current administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, remarked that the lower prices could lead to a rise in fertility treatment access.
The White House said the website is launching with discounts on more than 40 popular prescription drugs. Users can search for their medication, print a discount coupon and present it at participating pharmacies to receive the reduced price.
Trump has recently announced a series of pricing agreements with major drug companies, pushing them to adopt “Most Favored Nation” pricing, which ties US drug prices to the lowest rates offered in other wealthy countries. In return, pharmaceutical companies have reportedly received incentives, including relief from tariffs imposed by the administration.
The president has also pressured several countries, including Britain and France, to accept similar pharmaceutical pricing arrangements, a move that has sparked diplomatic tensions, particularly with French President Emmanuel Macron.Although Trump previously downplayed concerns about affordability, he has increasingly focused on lowering consumer costs amid weak approval ratings on the economy. Republicans have expressed concern that dissatisfaction over prices could hurt their performance in the midterm elections.
Trump has warned that a Republican loss in Congress could expose him to renewed impeachment efforts, raising the political stakes around his latest economic initiatives.
