Tom L. Slater
Des Moines
It doesn’t really surprise me that Americans for Prosperity would drag out the price gouging and then reduction of the price of the drug Daraprim and consider that “allowing the markets to work.”
Americans for Prosperity, the national organization funded by the Koch Brothers boasts an Iowa membership of more than 40,000. I would challenge the Iowa Chapter of Americans for Prosperity to survey their 40,000 members and ask — who is primarily responsible for the spike in drug prices? (the ACA; large pharmaceutical companies; or their health care providers?)
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 76 percent of Americans believe prescription drug prices should be America’s top priority. Blaming the insurance companies, Obamacare and private sector providers for the huge spike in drug prices and using the Turing Pharmaceutical anomaly as an example is laughable.
Drugs for chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, crohns, hepatitis and other drugs save and extend lives and alleviate pain and suffering, that is, if one has the money to purchase them. I understand the core principle of Americans for Prosperity is “for an America where truly free markets allow for free and prosperous people.” Yeah — right!