US President-elect Donald Trump recently pledged to restore the nation’s critical medicine production, vowing to end the widespread shortages experienced under the current Biden administration, according to a video posted on X. Trump's remarks came amid growing concerns over the US's reliance on foreign production, particularly from China, which manufactures up to 95% of essential medicines, including drugs like Ibuprofen and Hydrocortisone.

Trump decried the alarming rise in drug shortages during the Biden presidency, citing a 30% increase in shortages last year, with 295 active drug shortages recorded by the end of 2022. He specifically highlighted the current crisis in the availability of vital cancer treatments, noting that at least fourteen critical cancer drugs are in short supply. Trump warned that delays in cancer treatment increase the risk of death by 10% for each month of delay, describing the situation as “a mess” that demands immediate action.

Trump emphasized that the US's dependence on China for essential medicines is not only a public health issue but also a national security threat. He pointed out that China controls the production of most basic medicines, including life-saving treatments, and this reliance puts the nation in a vulnerable position. Trump vowed to change this dynamic by implementing tariffs and import restrictions to encourage the return of pharmaceutical production to American shores.

In his plan to address the crisis, Trump outlined a strategy for achieving total independence in drug production. This plan includes phasing in tariffs on imported medicines and incentivizing domestic manufacturing. He stressed that bringing production back to the US would not only improve the nation's public health resilience but also create numerous job opportunities for American workers.

Trump also criticized the lack of follow-through on a critical executive order he signed in 2020, aimed at reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign suppliers for essential medicines. He highlighted the failure to act on this order as part of a broader issue of neglecting America's pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

Trump’s pledge to restore the production of essential medicines in the US aligns with his broader vision of boosting American manufacturing and reducing the country’s reliance on foreign powers. If his plans come to fruition, it could mark a significant shift in US healthcare policy, strengthening national security while addressing critical gaps in the country’s healthcare system.