Sanders Calls Drugmakers a "Health Hazard for the American People'

Statement

Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement Tuesday on his proposal to rein in skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs:

"The pharmaceutical industry has become a health hazard for the American people. We now pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs and 1 in 5 Americans -- including patients suffering with cancer -- cannot afford to fill the prescriptions their doctors write.

"The time is long overdue for Congress to listen to the needs of the American people and not the enormously-profitable pharmaceutical industry. The top three drug companies racked up $45 billion in profits last year after the industry doled out $250 million on lobbying and campaign contributions.

"In 1999, I was the first member of Congress to take Americans across the border to purchase lower-cost drugs in Canada. Americans should not have to leave their country to get affordable medicine. Congress must act now to allow the re-importation of low-cost prescription drugs and Medicare must negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry to save seniors and taxpayers billions of dollars."

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