Sen. Bernie Sanders Presses FDA Nominee on Universal Healthcare

<p>Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pressed President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to endorse universal healthcare as a "human right" during a hearing on Thursday. Sanders expressed frustration as Dr. Heidi Overton, a physician and nominee, declined to provide a direct yes-or-no answer to his question.</p><p>Dr. Overton, who completed her residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and is associated with the America First Policy Institute, is seeking to replace Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned earlier this year over disagreements with the Trump administration regarding flavored vapes.</p><p>Sanders asked, "Do you happen to believe that healthcare is a human right that should be available to every man, woman and child in our country?" He argued that the U.S. is the only major country that does not guarantee healthcare, leading to preventable deaths due to lack of access and affordability.</p><p>Overton responded by emphasizing the importance of access to healthcare and stated her commitment to carrying out the policies and responsibilities assigned to the FDA by Congress.</p><p>Sanders reiterated his question, highlighting that residents in Canada have access to healthcare services. Overton acknowledged the importance of access to care and expressed her belief in providing patients with the best care possible.</p><p>As the discussion continued, Sanders shifted focus to whether President Trump was truthful in stating that the U.S. had reduced prescription drug prices to the lowest in the world. Overton replied that 89% of branded drugs are covered by agreements aimed at lowering prices for U.S. consumers.</p><p>She added, "The most-favored nation policies have dropped prices and, right now, CPI says that for the first time in 60 years, prescription drug prices have gone down by 3%," referencing a framework supported by Trump. Sanders contested the reasons behind this decline, suggesting it may relate to legislation passed in previous years.</p><p>The broader debate regarding Medicare-for-all and other government-run healthcare proposals is ongoing as the midterm elections approach.</p>