For many drugs, the only delay on a generic form is the greed of pharmaceutical companies. They make deals with developers of the generic form to not “rush” their drug to the market allowing the pharmaceutical company to make more money even after their patent has expired. Additionally, generic drugs are not usually the first prescribed or encouraged. On the contrary, it becomes the consumer’s responsibility to inquire about the availability of a generic form in order to avoid paying ridiculous amounts of money for drugs they must have. In reference to the quality and safety of generic drugs, the Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs. The reason that they are so cheap is because the companies producing the generic form do not have the research and development costs that the brand-name pharmaceutical companies did. The price does NOT reflect the quality, safety, or efficacy of the drug.
Becker, C. (2001). Drugmakers fight for good name. Stakes high, challenges many for providers who seek generic products. Modern Healthcare, 31(35), 28. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.
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