Statement From GPhA President And CEO Kathleen Jaeger On The President's State Of The Union Address, USA

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 30 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) President and CEO Kathleen Jaeger released the following statement in response to President Bush's State of Union address:

"Last night, President Bush stated that 'we share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans.' The American generic pharmaceutical industry couldn't agree more.

"As our nation grapples with the challenge of reducing skyrocketing health care costs while increasing access to quality care, generic medicines remain the right choice for better health. Generic medicines save consumers and the federal government billions of dollars a year. Most of all, generics provide patients with the same medicine with the same results as higher priced brand drugs.

"We call upon President Bush and Congress to support measures that increase access to generic medicines. This year, our elected officials have a real opportunity to reduce costs while increasing access to quality care by enacting legislation to create an effective and efficient approval pathway for biogenerics; approving free trade agreements, like the most recent free trade agreement with Peru, that foster the balance between pharmaceutical innovation and generic access; and removing longstanding barriers to access such as authorized generics and citizen petitions.

"In 2008, the economy and health care are top priorities for Americans. We can make the state of our union strong by increasing access to safe, effective and affordable generic medicines."

GPhA represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals, manufacturers and distributors of bulk active pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic drug industry. Generics represent 63% of the total prescriptions dispensed in the United States, but only 20% of all dollars spent on prescription drugs.

Generic Pharmaceutical Association