DETROIT – President Trump has issued an executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug costs in the U.S.
However, the plan’s implementation remains uncertain due to potential legal challenges and past obstacles faced by similar initiatives.
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We sat down with Rony Foumia, a Michigan pharmacist, Wayne State pharmacy professor, and Vice Chair of Michigan’s Board of Pharmacy, to discuss the executive order. While he wasn’t speaking on behalf of the board, his insights are informed by decades of experience in the industry.
“People are making that choice of possibly paying for their drugs or paying for their necessities such as food. People shouldn’t have to do that in this country,” Foumia stated.
His first reaction to President Trump’s executive order was that it creates a space for dialogue, despite the legal challenges it may face.
“When you look at this, it sounds great, but it’s not going to be so easy,” he cautioned.
While consumers would benefit from cheaper prescription pills, Foumia cautions that these cost-cutting measures could spell trouble for local pharmacies.
“So many of the community pharmacies are struggling, creating something called pharmacy deserts where people don’t live in the vicinity of a pharmacy because they’re having trouble staying in business,” Foumia said.
Foumia emphasized you don’t have to wait for things to pan out to get lower prescription drug prices. He recommends looking for generic alternatives.
“Just because a doctor prescribes a high-cost drug doesn’t mean that there aren’t alternatives that will work just as well that are generic equivalents,” he advised.
Additionally, he suggests checking other pharmacies to compare the cost of prescription drugs, noting that consumers may be surprised to find more savings.