Learning that Novartis, a large Swiss pharmaceutical firm, paid President Donald Trump's personal lawyer $1.2 million for access to the president was not surprising. Hearing Novartis say it was a mistake is laughable. Their mea culpa was smart public relations; they got what they paid for. America will continue to pay the highest prices in the world for medication.

We pay the highest prices for prescription medication because our elected officials refuse to stand up to the drug companies for fear of losing the money they supply to their campaigns as well as those nice retirement jobs when they leave politics. America is the only industrialized nation that does not have a process that requires drug manufacturers to bid to supply medication for government-sponsored programs. In fact, bidding is specifically forbidden when it comes to certain programs thanks to well-placed members of Congress. Trump's plan will do nothing to curtail drug prices because it is designed to support them.

On the bright side, Americans have the honor and privilege of paying for drug development that the rest of the world benefits from.

Peter Bannigan

Slingerlands