US senator raises alarm over growing reliance on generic medicines from India and China, explains why

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): A US senator has expressed serious concern over America’s increasing dependence on generic medicines manufactured in countries like India and China, warning that this reliance could pose risks to American families. Senator Rick Scott, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said that a large share of generic drugs and their raw chemical ingredients used in the United States are produced overseas, creating concerns related to public health as well as national security.

Speaking on Wednesday (local time), Senator Scott said that Americans who depend on foreign-made generic medicines have the right to know what ingredients are used in their drugs. He stated that his committee has once again stepped up efforts to expose weaknesses in the US pharmaceutical supply chain. Scott is working closely with senior committee member Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and the initiative includes investigations, hearings, and consultations with government agencies and industry stakeholders.

According to Scott, nearly 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in generic medicines in the US come from foreign countries. He claimed that many of these medicines are produced in unsafe and unhygienic factories with limited oversight, and in some cases, have caused serious harm to patients’ health.

“These drugs can pose serious health risks,” Scott said, adding that dependence on foreign suppliers also represents a strategic vulnerability. He warned that China could halt the supply of medicines at any time, which could leave senior citizens, military personnel, and ordinary Americans without access to essential drugs.

Scott also pointed out that while some surprise inspections are carried out at overseas factories, the US Food and Drug Administration conducts far more inspections at domestic facilities than at those located abroad. In certain cases, he alleged, foreign manufacturers are granted regulatory leniency to avoid disruptions in the supply chain.

A committee investigation report highlighted a sharp decline in domestic drug manufacturing in the US. In 2024, the country produced only 37 percent of the medicines it required, compared to 83 percent in 2002. The report stated that about 95 percent of ibuprofen, 70 percent of paracetamol, and more than 45 percent of penicillin used in the US are sourced from China.

The report further noted that nearly 90 percent of APIs used globally in antibiotic drugs are manufactured in China. Additionally, 83 percent of the APIs used in the top 100 generic medicines in the US have no domestic source. India also plays a key role in this supply chain, supplying nearly 50 percent of generic medicines used in the US, although Indian manufacturers themselves rely on China for around 80 percent of their APIs.

Citing a 2025 study, the committee said that serious adverse effects linked to generic medicines made in India were found to be 54 percent higher than those associated with similar drugs manufactured in the US. These effects reportedly include risks such as permanent disability or death. Scott stressed that Americans should not be forced to “gamble” with the safety and availability of their medicines and called for urgent reforms to restore trust in the drug system.

The committee’s report recommended several measures, including prioritising US-made medicines through a federal buyer market for essential drugs, mapping the pharmaceutical supply chain, mandating disclosure of a drug’s country of origin, using trade investigations such as Section 232, preventing misuse of “Made in America” labels, and promoting domestic biotechnology.

It is noteworthy that India and China remain major hubs of the global generic pharmaceutical industry, supplying affordable medicines to countries around the world, including the United States.