Reply #7: Trashing generics benefits big pharma rip-offs. [View All]

Many states and insurances require generic substitution, by law or contract, but brand name can be dispensed if patient or doctor requests it. Then, many insurances require the doctor to call them to explain the medical necessity to do so for authorization.

The manufacturing standards are the same for brand and generic and have the same allowance for variation in manufacture. Most of the generic companies are now owned by large drug companies and many generics drugs are manufactured by the brand name factory and re-marked as generics.

Drug companies that have poor manufacturing standards usually would show up by FDA testing and be recalled or prevented from release. Drug wholesalers are the step that should weed out most problem companies in the distribution chain. However, the FDA could use more funding and staff to improve the enormous regulatory challenge to insure safety. IMHO.