Generic Drugs Are Attracting Federal Scrutiny And Action

90% of the prescriptions Americans rely upon are generic drugs. Most of them, or their key ingredients, are manufactured overseas getty

The U.S. spent $722.5 billion on pharmaceuticals in 2023. Although brand-name drugs consume four out of every 5 dollars America spends on prescription medicine, they account for less than 10 percent of prescriptions. The other 90% are relatively inexpensive generic drugs.

“Inexpensive” does not mean “unimportant.” Generic drugs are mainstays of hospital ICU and ER care, as well as treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, infections and many other health conditions. Unfortunately, the long-held assumption that all generic drugs are equally safe and effective is false . Nevertheless, until recently Congress and the White House largely