FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box 53313
1921 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009-9997
March 3, 2023
One Step To Make Drugs Affordable For Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After years of advocacy by Doctors for America and others in the health care community, Eli Lilly recently announced price reductions on a few of their insulin products in response to repeated demands to put patients over profits. Doctors for America applauds any action that makes these life-saving medications more affordable to millions of patients around the world.
This decision, however, also highlights the continued need for systemic drug pricing reform to further expand access to insulin and other critical medications. Without similar pricing action by the other major manufacturers of insulin, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi as well as across insulin formulations, countless patients will continue to struggle with insulin affordability. Furthermore, even Eli Lilly’s decision can be revoked at any time in response to shifting demands from shareholders.
Such piecemeal and potentially ephemeral solutions will not solve the long term crisis of drug affordability afflicting patients across the country and around the world. We therefore continue to call on state and national political leaders to enact sweeping drug pricing reform: policies that cap out of pocket costs for patients regardless of insurance status, and that base drug prices on rational metrics grounded in meaningful clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness. Until we enact policies that truly end the era of profits over patients, announcements like those today will be only a bandage on the gaping wound at the heart of our medical system.
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About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America (DFA) mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. DFA is an organization of over 27,000 physician and medical student advocates in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. DFA teaches physicians and medical students advocacy skills and does advocacy at a state and federal level. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits.
Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on Twitter @drsforamerica.