Generic medicines are the backbone of the U.S. prescription drug market, supplying more than 9 out of every 10 prescriptions. And the availability of generic medicines overall is remarkably stable – even during challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, drug shortages, which hit crisis proportions between 2010 and 2011, can be a challenge for manufacturers, providers, and patients. Due to aggressive efforts by industry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the incidence of shortages has declined, but recent reports suggest a rise in shortages in 2023.