Bernie Sanders accused pharmaceutical industry executives of seeking to profit from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are the only major country on Earth not to guarantee healthcare to all people. We're spending so much money, and yet, we are not even prepared for this pandemic,” he said during Sunday’s Democratic presidential debate.

“How come people can't afford to get the prescription drugs they need because we have a bunch of crooks who are running the pharmaceutical industry ripping us off every single day? And I'll tell you something right now: In the midst of this epidemic, you got people in the pharmaceutical industry are saying, ‘Wow, what an opportunity to make a fortune,’” the Vermont senator said.

He later added that the government needs to tell the pharmaceutical industry that "this is not a time for profiteering."

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More than 3,000 people in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 63 have died. The government and industry are racing to develop therapeutic drugs and vaccines for the disease.