PRESS RELEASE
September 3, 2016
Clinton Proposes Drug Price Control
FRESNO—The recent highly publicized 400% price increase on EpiPens highlights the motivation behind the Prescription Drug Price Control Plan that Hillary Clinton announced last year. The company that produces EpiPens, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, decided that it had a sufficient monopoly of the market such that it could institute this wild increase and its medically dependent customers would have no choice but to pay.
Mylan is not alone. Between 2008 and 2015, various drug makers increased the prices of almost 400 generic drugs by more than 1,000%. This is not a problem that the free market can solve.
For many of these drugs, there is a relatively small number of people who need them, presenting a big economic risk for new corporations thinking about dedicating production lines to making those drugs. That means there is often not any competition and in situations like that, without stringent government protection, the temptation to exploit a dependent customer base has proven to be irresistible.
That is why Clinton has her plan to support new alternative manufacturers, accelerate the entry of regulated foreign treatments and impose fines on drug companies that implement predatory price increases.
“Affordable drug pricing and universal access to healthcare are essential to ensuring a healthy citizenry,” says Michael D. Evans, chair of the Fresno County Democratic Party. “We need leadership that puts the health of Americans before profits.”
The Fresno County Democratic Party is united behind Hillary Clinton for President. The official Coordinated Campaign headquarters is at 1035 U Street in downtown Fresno. To volunteer or for more information, contact 559-495-0606 or fresnocountydemocrats@yahoo.com.
