Generic drugs barely existed a half century ago. In 1960 fewer than one out of ten prescriptions was filled with a generic. Today, that proportion has almost flipped: generics fill all but one out of six prescriptions.
Anyone who takes medicines is faced with the choice repeatedly, for over-the-counter drugs even more than for prescriptions, because our insurers often decide which prescription drug they'll pay for. Generic or brand name? Most of us have very little idea of what's involved when we make that choice.
In September Sheilah spoke with Dr. Jeremy Greene, an associate professor of medicine and chair in the History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In his book, Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine, he traces how generics came to be, how they are regulated, what the issues are and new issues cropping up with high-tech drugs.
Interested in reading Generic? Find out more here.
