"We need to look at what the government is doing to create the environment that is leading to some of these instances." That was Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla) on "Mornings with Maria" Wednesday morning. (Video link below.)
It's common knowledge now that the drug administered by the Epipen wasn't the issue. The issue was that there is no competition for the dispensing device. Drug companies spend big bucks lobbying the FDA to protect their own products against any possible competition. And if this instance of Mylan Labs and Epipen is any indication, it was money well spent. They had a monopoly which was aided and abetted by the FDA.
DeSantis wants to try to get Congress to reduce the regulations that led to this result. Reduction of regulations has been the goal of conservatives for years. Boy, it sure has taken a long time. And only when it gets in the headlines is there any effort put into it. But assuming Republicans in government are serious, it will still take time.
For more immediate relief DeSantis plans to get the FDA in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The FDA contends that it doesn't involve itself in product pricing, but the hope is that shining some light on these problems will help them understand the impact they are having and motivate them to move a little faster.
Watch the interview at this Youtube link. It's encouraging to hear a politician propose solutions that might get a government agency like the FDA to serve the people a little better than they have.
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