WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday signed a wide-ranging executive order, establishing a 30-day deadline for pharmaceutical companies to either voluntarily lower prescription drug prices in the United States or face new restrictions on the amounts the government will pay in the future.

この大統領令により、ロバート・F・ケネディ・ジュニアが率いる保健省は、今後1か月以内に新しい医薬品の価格について交渉する必要があります。もし合意できない場合、ケネディ氏はアメリカが医薬品に支払う価格を、他の国が支払う価格よりも低く設定するための新しい規則を作る責任を負います。

During a press conference on Monday morning, Mr. Trump declared, "We are going to equalize things. Everyone will pay the same amount, an amount equal to what Europe is contributing."

It is still unclear how this executive order from the Republican president will affect millions of Americans who have private health insurance. The federal government has the most influence in setting the prices of drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Hours after the Republican-led House unveiled a new plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid, Trump announced a new (but uncertain) initiative aimed at lowering drug prices.

アメリカの主な製薬業界の団体は、国内最大の製薬会社を代表して、トランプ氏の大統領令にすぐさま反対し、「アメリカの患者にとって良くない取り決めだ」と批判しました。製薬会社は、利益が減ると新しい薬の研究開発に悪い影響が出ると以前から主張しています。

In a statement, PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl asserted, "Adopting foreign pricing from socialist countries would constitute a detrimental arrangement for American patients and workers. This would diminish opportunities for treatments and cures, and it pertains to the tens of billions of dollars our member companies are slated to invest in the United States."

トランプ氏が提案する「最恵国待遇」と呼ばれるメディケアの薬の価格設定方法は、彼が政権の初期に導入しようとした時から議論を呼んでいます。さらに、大統領としての最後の数週間には、医師の診察室で使う注射薬や、点滴で投与するがん治療薬など、一部の薬について、アメリカは他の国が払う安い価格だけを払うという、似たような大統領令に署名しました。

However, that specific executive order faced big problems being put into practice because court orders stopped the rules from taking effect under the Joe Biden administration. The drug companies had argued that Trump's 2020 plan gave foreign governments an advantage in deciding how much medicines should cost in the United States.

月曜日にホワイトハウスで行われた演説で、トランプ氏は製薬会社を何度も擁護しました。そして、アメリカ人が薬に高い値段を払うのは、他の国のせいだと非難しました。同時に、連邦政府の調査や、他の国からの薬をアメリカ市場に入れるための対策を検討していることも示唆しました。

Trump asserted that a substantial portion of pharmaceutical companies' profits originate from the United States, deeming this situation undesirable.

Over the weekend, in a post designed to amplify his announcement, Trump boasted that his plan could potentially save "trillions of dollars."

However, on Monday, the White House did not provide a specific figure on how much the administration anticipates it can save.

Mr. Oz, who is in charge of Medicare and Medicaid services, said that leaders from the health department will meet with heads of drug companies in the next month. They will suggest new prices for medicines based on what other countries pay.

Rachel Sachs, a health law specialist at the University of Washington, points out that this executive order is unlikely to offer swift relief to Americans grappling with rapidly escalating pharmaceutical costs.

サックス氏は、この計画はメーカーに特定のレベルまで価格を下げるよう任意で求めるものだが、そのレベルは明確ではないと説明しました。もし価格が望ましいレベルまで下がらない場合、厚生省は他の対策をとるでしょうが、それには非常に長い時間がかかり、何年も先になる可能性もあります。

While the Department of Health and Human Services possesses considerable authority to influence drug prices covered by Medicare and Medicaid, this power is not without its limitations. In 2022, Congress enacted landmark legislation authorizing Medicare to negotiate the prices of certain prescription drugs, a provision set to take effect in 2026. Previously, Medicare simply accepted the prices dictated by pharmaceutical companies; however, pharmaceutical firms have challenged the implementation of this law in court, albeit unsuccessfully.

Conversely, the cost of pharmaceuticals for millions of Americans with private insurance presents a more intractable challenge for the Department of Health to influence.

The United States always spends a lot on medicine prices compared to other big or rich countries. This problem has been a frustration for both main political parties for a long time, but a solution that lasts has never passed Congress.

During his initial term, Trump accused pharmaceutical companies of "getting away with murder" and decried how other nations, where the government sets drug prices, were exploiting Americans.

発表の前に、トランプ氏はソーシャルメディアで再び製薬業界を強く批判しました。彼は、製薬会社が長い間、高い薬の値段を研究開発費のせいにしていると言いました。そして、これらの費用は理由もなく、アメリカの「犠牲者」だけが負担してきたと書きました。

さらに、彼は製薬会社の強い働きかけに言及し、「選挙のためのお金は確かに大きな力を持つことができるが、私や共和党には影響しない」と述べた。

彼は、「正しいことを行う」と強い決意を込めて表明した。

On Monday morning, the share prices of several pharmaceutical companies surged. Merck, which generated a substantial $64.2 billion in revenue last year with its cancer treatment Keytruda, saw a 3.9% rise. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, having recorded $63.6 billion in sales in 2024, experienced a 2.5% increase, while Gilead Sciences' shares ascended by 5.8%.