Let’s watch drug companies, too

With the Republican Party determined to undermine President Obama’s Health Care Reform Act I would love to see them direct some of their energy toward the pharmaceutical companies who continue to gouge consumers with their obscene price increases despite a low inflation rate averaging 1.5 percent.

Drug companies have been raising their prices at heart attack inducing rates for the most common drugs since the Affordable Care Act was passed. Research and development has been completed many moons ago for many of these common drugs.

As a consumer of a simple drug, a potassium supplement, probably prescribed for millions of Americans, the cost has increased from $20 for a 90-day supply to in excess of $111 over a five month period. How can they justify this enormous increase and how do they expect consumers on fixed incomes with no prescription drug coverage to take these drugs in order to remain healthy and avoid costly hospitalizations?

Are the drug companies so greedy that they are determined to increase their profits at the expense of the American consumer who must take certain drugs to remain healthy and hospital free?

If Republicans are really intent on lowering health care costs they would do well to take long hard looks at the pharmaceutical companies and consider a watchdog committee to oversee these unbelievable increases.

For Americans who must take life sustaining medications these medications costs must be within their budget if they are to remain medically stable.

Perhaps the pharmaceutical companies can forego their bonuses in a compassionate attempt to help keep America healthy.

Carmel Mullally-Powers

St. Charles