Lower prescription drug prices by limiting prices to those charged in other developing countries
As you may know, the prices that drugs sell for in other developed countries are on average less than half the price that Americans pay. There is currently a proposal that the federal government shall set maximum prices that drug companies can charge for each prescription drug, based on what is charged for those drugs in other developed countries. Drug companies say if required to lower US prices, this will reduce revenue for drug development. The Congressional Budget Office found limits could r
Arguments For & Against
Pro Argument
It is appropriate for the government to regulate the price of prescription drugs, which are necessary for people's survival and to live healthy lives. When drug prices are high some people can't afford them and as a result some will develop more serious illness or even die. High drug prices also drive up premiums for health insurance. Taxpayers fund a third of all research that goes into developing new drugs, yet many Americans can't afford them. Americans are getting taken advantage of, and it's time for the government to step in.
Con Argument
Companies take huge risks when they invest in developing new drugs—it can cost up to two billion dollars to develop one new successful drug, and there's no certainty they will make their money back. If we lower their revenues, and lower what they can expect to earn on future investments, they will make less investment and ultimately there will be fewer new drugs. This hurts everyone's health and some people will die who could have been saved.
Source document: SwingSix-Healthcare-Quaire-0724.pdf
| Type | Organization | Date | Nat | Rep | Dem | Gap | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PPC Survey (2026) | Program for Public Consultation | February 2026 | 86% | 90% | 86% | 4% | favor |
| Deliberative Survey | Program for Public Consultation | July 2024 | 78% | 75% | 87% | 12% | favor |
Program for Public Consultation — February 2026
As you may know, many drug companies charge a higher price for drugs in the US than in other developed countries. To ensure that prices are not higher in the US, it has been proposed that the federal government set maximum prices based on what the drugs are sold for in other developed countries.
Program for Public Consultation — July 2024
The federal government shall set maximum prices that drug companies can charge for each prescription drug, based on what is charged for those drugs in other developed countries (such as Canada, Australia, Japan and many European countries).
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