Who determines the price of drugs
By: Bryce Poston
Why do approximately 7 in 10 Americans believe that the United States health care system is structured in a manner that allows pharmaceutical and insurance companies to profit when the population is ill?
This claim was recently discussed in a January 2026 article in The Atlantic by Michael Sherer of Columbia University. In this article, Sherer outlines the challenges faced by the current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, as a member of President Trump’s cabinet. Kennedy has drawn considerable criticism for numerous policies he has supported, as well as his public statements regarding the effectiveness of certain widely accepted medical practices, particularly vaccines.
Kennedy is quoted as saying, “The entire purpose of science is to search for existential truths; it’s not subjective, it should be objective.” This raises a central contradiction: if science must be objective and fact-based, why does “the most important man in science” reject the overwhelming scientific evidence and widespread positive feedback on the effectiveness of vaccines?
One popular explanation for public distrust of the health care system lies in rising costs. While some argue that inflation and increased costs for goods naturally lead to higher drug prices, this explanation is weakened by the fact that the price for new drugs has doubled over the past 20 years, even after adjusting for inflation. Although some price increases can be attributed to medical breakthroughs and greater drug effectiveness, most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, agree that government regulation of drug prices should be increased.
The increase in the price of medical supplies really could be more connected to a larger emphasis on profits, rather than the products, for companies, where the minimum effort is sold for the maximum price. The people who feel this effect the most are really the customers, specifically individuals from lower-income areas, who oftentimes are some of the people who need these products the most.
“Maybe we look to our government for help” is a thought that could be answered regarding the increased price of drugs and groceries, or the lack of access to vaccines for millions, or any of the other problems we are faced with today. But when our government and society are as divided as they are, and when the high players in our government don’t believe in the science backing these things, it is difficult to rely on these individuals for the help they need.
