US medical giants say Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is an “egregious and discriminatory” program that Trump should target in the next wave of tariffs.

US medical giants say Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is an “egregious and discriminatory” program that Trump should target in the next wave of tariffs.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20250319050457/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/big-pharma-plea-to-trump-to-punish-australia-for-cheaper-medicines-20250319-p5lko1.html

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  •  Mothra   ( @Mothra@mander.xyz ) 
    5•5 days ago

    I need an ELI5 on this. I’m really dumb when it comes to politics and its jargon. I’ve read the article but I’m not sure I understand. Let’s see: Australia buys medicine from US and sells it a a really low price as part of its healthcare support scheme. So US now will increase these prices as a penalty of sorts? So Australia is forced to increase prices domestically? Is that right?

    •  Rentlar   ( @Rentlar@lemmy.ca ) 
      8•5 days ago

      It sounds like the single payer system in Australia saves its citizens money by negotiating competitive rates, and US drug companies don’t like that they can’t extort them like they can US patients.