Americans are living longer lives because our market-oriented healthcare system rewards innovation and attracts investment in medical science. Weakening those incentives through drug price controls may lower costs in the short term—but will mean shorter lives in the long run.
American life expectancy has hit an all-time high. According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 79 years. Americans are living longer thanks to significant declines in death from things like cancer, heart disease and stroke.
This progress is largely the product of medical innovation. Private industry is pouring billions of dollars into pharmaceutical research and development—and producing breakthrough therapies that would have sounded like science fiction just decades ago.
Our leaders must not disrupt that cycle of innovation by threatening to seize the returns on pharmaceutical investment through price controls. American lives depend on it.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
America’s Healthcare System Has Never Been Better At Keeping Patients Alive
Sally C. Pipes
Americans are living longer lives because our market-oriented healthcare system rewards innovation and attracts investment in medical science. Weakening those incentives through drug price controls may lower costs in the short term—but will mean shorter lives in the long run.
American life expectancy has hit an all-time high. According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 79 years. Americans are living longer thanks to significant declines in death from things like cancer, heart disease and stroke.
This progress is largely the product of medical innovation. Private industry is pouring billions of dollars into pharmaceutical research and development—and producing breakthrough therapies that would have sounded like science fiction just decades ago.
Our leaders must not disrupt that cycle of innovation by threatening to seize the returns on pharmaceutical investment through price controls. American lives depend on it.
Read the op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.