US states to buy prescription drugs abroad: Trump

President Donald Trump said on Friday he would be giving US states the right to buy prescription drugs from other countries, as part of a bid to boost consumer access to cheaper medicines.

"I'm going to be giving governors the right very shortly to buy ... their prescription drugs from other countries," Trump said at a White House event accompanied by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, among other officials.

Trump said he was working with governors including Florida Republican Ron DeSantis on the plan. "They're going to buy from other countries and skip all of the nonsense."

Trump campaigned on a platform to reduce drug prices for US consumers and has slammed the pharmaceutical industry for high prices.

Most other developed nations directly or indirectly negotiate drug pricing with companies, and in some cases may deny access to medicines they deem too expensive, while pricing in the United States is left to the free market and set by drugmakers.

Trump has floated the idea before, but it was not immediately clear how such imports would work. The idea has been mulled for years but never implemented, given US regulations to ensure safety and staunch industry opposition.

Trump's comments came after HHS announced two rules to increase price transparency among hospitals, group health plans and health insurers.