Can Trump Make America Healthy Again?

Wendell Berry: “We have a food system that ignores health and a healthcare system that ignores food!”

Hippocrates (“Founder” of Western Medicine): “Let food be your medicine and medicine your food”.

Doctors reportedly still take the Hippocratic Oath and vow to “First do no harm”.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for the presidency as a “Kennedy Democrat” in 2023. However, when the Democratic Party refused to debate him, Kennedy declared his independence. This summer, RFK Jr. joined the Trump Transition Team and has vowed to “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA).

The Trump MAHA team is beginning to take shape now and it has profound implications for Big Pharma and Big Ag as well as American farmers. The health of all Americans will be profoundly affected – including kids in school and people on welfare as well as the US military and the economy.

Trump has nominated Kennedy to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Trump announced on Truth Details:

“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.

The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Trump pick of RFK for top US health job astounds critics

RFK Jr. Plans To Ban Big Pharma Ads on TV

The United States and New Zealand are the only nations that allow drug companies to advertise on television. So, many programs in America are now “brought to you by Pfizer”.

‘Brought To You By Pfizer’: These Are News Programs That Are Sponsored By Big Pharma

Can the Trump Administration Ban Big Pharma Advertising? Experts Weigh In

A possible ban on DTC pharma ads poses ‘biggest threat’ of RFK Jr.’s HHS appointment: analyst

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slated to take the top spot at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President-elect Donald Trump, some in the biopharma industry are concerned about his tenure’s possible impacts on companies’ direct-to-consumer outreach.

RFK Jr. has previously expressed a desire to put a stop to DTC pharma ads in the U.S.—which is one of only two countries in the world, along with New Zealand, where prescription drugs can be directly advertised to consumers. In just one example, while still in the presidential race earlier this year, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “on my first day in office I will issue an executive order banning pharmaceutical advertising on television.”

In a report Sunday, research firm Intron Health suggested that such a ban represents a major risk of RFK Jr.’s (still to-be-confirmed) HHS leadership for the biopharma industry. “Whilst we have a relatively benign view of RFK’s impact on the Pharma industry, one thing that does worry us is the potential for the US government to ban DTC advertising of drugs,” Intron wrote, adding, “We see this as the biggest imminent threat from RFK and the new Trump administration.”

The analysts noted that because the return on investment for DTC drug ads is quite high—with “estimates ranging as high as 100%-500%, depending on the drug”—pharmas will “almost certainly” see their drug sales take a hit from a DTC ban, even as they save money on marketing spending.;;;;

For the incoming administration’s potential impacts on pharma, those industry watchers say, the focus should instead be on Trump’s pick to lead the FDA. For that spot, the president-elect on Friday tapped Johns Hopkins surgeon and author Martin Makary, M.D., a vocal critic of COVID-19 public health policies and of the FDA’s Orphan Drug Act pathway for rare disease treatments.

Makary hasn’t yet shared his views on DTC pharma ads, though he did in 2013 contribute to a study analyzing certain marketing claims by healthcare providers, which ultimately concluded, “Further investigation of provider advertising, its effects on quality of care, and potential oversight mechanisms is needed.”

Trump Appoints Dr. Marty Makary To Head FDA

Trump picks Dr. Marty Makary as Food and Drug Administration commissioner

Trump said Makary would work under HHS nominee RFK Jr. to address the ‘childhood chronic disease epidemic’

President-elect Trump on Friday announced he is nominating Johns Hopkins School of Medicine professor Dr. Marty Makary for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner. “I am very pleased to nominate Marty Makary MD, MPH, FACS, for FDA Commissioner,” Trump said in a statement. “FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator. The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency.”

Makary’s nomination comes after Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “Make America healthy again.” Trump said Makary will “work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic.”

Trump in his statement added that Makary, who was a Fox News medical contributor, is also a “member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine” and “has devoted his career to improving Medical Quality and lowering Hospital and Drug Costs for all Americans. In addition, Dr. Makary is an accomplished Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and a leading advocate for Healthcare Transparency. He has authored more than 300 scientific articles and three New York Times bestselling books on Healthcare.

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Dr. Makary’s Books

Dr. Makary, is a Johns Hopkins medical expert and a three-time NYT bestselling author, including the 2021 book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care–and How to Fix It. It is an eye-opening look at the medical groupthink that has led to public harm, and what you need to know about your health. Peter Attia, MD. described the book as “A wake up call…an essential read for anyone looking to understand the pitfalls of modern medicine and the path to a more effective and compassionate approach to health care.”

Dr. Makary is also the author of the September 2024 book Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health.

Amazon Description

Dr. Makary has been a visiting professor at over 25 medical schools, has published over 300 scientific peer-reviewed articles, and has written for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. A public health researcher, Dr. Makary served in leadership at the World Health Organization and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Makary is the recipient of the 2020 Business Book of the Year Award for his book, The Price We Pay, about the grassroots movement to lower healthcare costs through greater medical transparency.

He currently leads the Evidence-based Medicine Public Policy Research Group at Johns Hopkins and is director of The Re-design of Healthcare Project, a national effort to make health care more reliable and affordable, especially for vulnerable populations. His research focuses on the appropriateness of medical care, administrative waste, and the impact of health recommendations on society.

Dr. Makary is the recipient of the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation and numerous teaching awards. His newest book, Blind Spots, details how to live healthy by separating medical dogma from evidence-based science.

RFK Jr is the least ‘scary’ thing happening to the US health system, Dr Makary warns (video)

Importance of Reforming Medicine Now

In the video below, Dr. Makary points out that rebuilding the public’s trust in the medical profession is the most important issue in medicine today.

317 ‒ Reforming medicine: uncovering blind spots, challenging the norm, and embracing innovation

Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and New York Times bestselling author, returns to The Drive to discuss his latest book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health.

In this episode, Marty explores how a new generation of doctors is challenging long-held medical practices by asking critical new questions. He discusses the major problems of groupthink and cognitive dissonance in the medical community and delves into several of the “blind spots” raised in the book…. He explains the urgent need for reform in medical education and the major barriers standing in the way of innovative medical research. Marty offers insightful reflections on where medicine has succeeded and where there’s still room to challenge historic practices and embrace new approaches.

Senate Confirmation Required

While the president-elect can make the nomination for HHS Secretary, the appointment won’t take effect unless confirmed by the Senate. That process may prove contentious given RFK Jr.’s stances. The RFK Jr. selection for HHS secretary means he won’t be tapped to lead the FDA, the federal agency with the most influence over Big Pharma. Still, RFK Jr. may play a major role in the FDA’s approach under Trump sine the FDA is part of HHS. It’s not yet clear who Trump will tap to lead the FDA.