New Delhi: Donald Trump's return to the White House has created uncertainty in the US pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. President Trump is most likely to implement major policy changes that could affect millions of people.
According to data analysis firm GlobalData, President Trump is interested in overhauling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is pushing anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to play a key role in the health care sector. The reported appointment has raised concerns about public health funding, vaccine policy, health care policy, and other issues. and medical insurance.
“Trump tried and failed to repeal the ACA during his first term, but he may consider reconsidering it,” said Cyrus Huang, a research analyst at GlobalData. .
Further concerns are raised by President Trump's possible appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a post in the medical field. Kennedy is known for his anti-vaccine stance and vocal criticism of the pharmaceutical industry and FDA, and his influence could change major health agencies such as the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Appointing RFK as Secretary of Health could have a negative impact on U.S. health care,” Phan said. “The future of U.S. drug approvals is unlikely given his anti-vaccine rhetoric and negative comments about the FDA.” and questions about the FDA's regulatory authority. Dismantling the CDC and other health agencies would jeopardize U.S. public health and slow progress under the Biden administration, including addressing the opioid epidemic and the cancer moonshot plan. “It's possible,” he said on the issue during the 2024 election campaign. Although he has expressed interest in reforming the Inflation Control Act (IRA), he appears to have put on hold an earlier proposal to reduce drug costs through international reference pricing. While President Trump's stance on IRAs has stopped short of proposing a complete repeal, he could consider targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which has been a focus of Republican lawmakers in recent months.
“Many Americans may be worried that their health insurance coverage through the ACA or Medicaid is at risk.When it comes to the pharmaceutical industry, President Trump is less likely to impose reforms this term. “While they appear to be less focused, they do show interest in implementing measures to reduce drug costs, although they are not as aggressive as Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' proposals,” Hwang concluded.
