DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) \u2014 An Iowa cancer patient says his medication costs far more here than it does overseas, and he wants answers from whoever becomes governor.<\/p>\n
David Lord is spending $5,000 for his cancer treatment medication. It\u2019s what\u2019s bringing him to the polls this November, hoping Iowa\u2019s next elected officials can help lower his and many other Iowans\u2019 costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can they charge one amount in one country and so much more here,\u201d Lord said.<\/p>\n
Candidates respond<\/p>\n
Both candidates for Iowa governor have made healthcare one of their key priorities.<\/p>\n
Democrat Rob Sand points to his \u201cAffordability for All\u201d plan. It calls for a state board to negotiate lower drug prices, and a crackdown on what he calls price gouging by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be saying that customers deserve to have choices. But you can\u2019t just contract with a pharmacy that you own when you\u2019re the PBM that owns the pharmacy. Because that\u2019s not competition. That\u2019s not a market,\u201d Sand said in May.<\/p>\n
Republican Zach Lahn has vowed to make Iowa\u2019s cancer crisis one of his day one priorities in office. His campaign says the drug pricing system itself has lost Iowans\u2019 trust. They point to federal price transparency rules as a model for lowering costs. Lahn said during a primary debate in May the state needs to better support nursing programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cNursing is one that we can get right into, skilled trades are another. And the reason we do this is not for a political buzzword. We do it because you\u2019re being trained to go deep into your community, to serve your neighbors,\u201d Lahn said in May.<\/p>\n
Training hospitals<\/p>\n
Lord also says he wants Iowa\u2019s elected officials to open more training hospitals to encourage more young Iowans to work in the medical field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we got two more medical schools than we did in the 70s and what 100 million more people now in the US? That doesn\u2019t make any sense,\u201d Lord said.<\/p>\n
Lord says he doesn\u2019t need a perfect plan. He needs someone willing to act. He says he\u2019s worried large pharmaceutical companies are buying support from those running.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com<\/a>; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV <\/a>on X\/Twitter@isabellaw_gray<\/a>, and on Instagram@IsabellaWarrenTV.<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau. All rights reserved. <\/p>\n