U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while participating in the swearing-in ceremony for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday charged the new U.S. health secretary with bringing down drug prices and to be tough on pharmaceutical companies about the widespread abuse of prescription opiates.

“He’s going to get those prescription drug prices way down,” said Trump at a swearing-in ceremony for Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, adding that Azar would be “very tough” on drug companies and doctors about prescribing opioids.