PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If you are taking prescription medications, the odds are quite good that many of these drugs are generics.
Ninety percent of prescription drugs sold in this country are generic. A generic medication has the same chemical structure as a prescription brand, but pharmaceutical companies only have a limited time to sell the medications at higher prices with a brand name before it becomes generic.
In an effort to cut down health care costs, most insurance plans, including government plans, encourage generic medications.
Two countries — India and China — produce the lion’s share of generics. The U.S. FDA monitors the medications, but there is a constant battle to make sure that these medications meet the standards set in the U.S. The role of the FDA is far more important than ever.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.