Generic Rx: Shopping For Health Care In The Global Village

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 05 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PST

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Once the exception, generic drugs are now the norm. This year, about two-thirds of the prescriptions written by doctors were for generic drugs.

Generic drugs have taken off for many reasons. Brand-name blockbusters (Fosamax, Zocor, and Zoloft) have lost their patent protection in recent years. The Medicare Part D prescription plans have loaded up their formularies with generics.

But a crucial and underappreciated factor has been the role of low-cost suppliers, many of them in India. Given the potential problems with contaminated imports, the FDA has promised to step up its overseas inspections.

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