In an unusual move, the FDA has recalled 500 medications meant to treat coughs and colds. The FDA cites untested safety and effectiveness in this recall. There is a trade-off to manufacturing medications in emerging markets. This recall highlights that security trade. Resource for this article – FDA recalls 500 medicines; low cost can mean unsafe manufacturing by MoneyBlogNewz.
Specific medicines recalled by FDA
In probably the most recent Food and Drug Administration recall, over five hundred cold, allergy and cough medicines were recalled. Several different suppliers were attacked in the recall. The medications are decongestants and cough suppressants. Many of the medicines were very old. The Food and Drug Administration couldn’t even get information from some of the businesses on the medicine. Other medications were simply marketed and sold without Food and Drug Administration approval. Many of the drugs were recommended for children and babies. The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend that this kind of medication be used for kids under 2 years old.
Paying for a prescription medicine
It can cost lots of money to manufacture prescription medicine. Before a compound is changed into pills, sometimes it's created in a different country. Sometimes chemical information is just handed to a production plant to do all the work. These can happen in different nations too. The cost of a medicine is cut from 20 to 50 percent when production in India or China. Customers don’t have to pay almost as much for these medicines. Drugs produced in these emerging markets, however, show a failure rate between 4 percent and 10 percent. That means billions are spent on medicines that don’t work right because of the $287 billion U.S. market.
Prescription drugs paid for
New programs that help cover the cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens started at the first of the year by the federal government. The cost of prescription medications costs the government millions and drug corporations millions to get out there. The investment might not be worth it for several. On average, every $1 that is spent on prescription medication saves, in hospital care, about $4, according to a 1999 study. So despite the several problems, prescription drugs might prove to be one of the better health-care investments made, as long as the medications taken are truly risk-free and effective.
Articles cited
National Center for Policy Analysis
ncpa.org/pub/st230
CNN
articles.cnn.com/2009-03-19/health/ep.prescription.drug.costs_1_prescription-drugs-elderly-patients-coumadin?_s=PM:HEALTH
Heartland
heartland.org/healthpolicy-news.org/article/29447/Study_Drugs_from_Emerging_Markets_Have_High_Failure_Rates.html
FDA
fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/SelectedEnforcementActionsonUnapprovedDrugs/ucm245106.htm
