FDA pushes for warnings on generic drugs

Drug makers in the US are fighting a proposal aimed at giving better information to consumers about the pills they were taking.

People need reliable information about safety and side effects of the drugs they are taking, but though the information is set out right on the bottle in many cases, it is not always the case.

According to the FDA all drug makers need to inform users about side effects of drugs, but the makers of generic drugs, are not keen on the idea.

Companies behind generic drugs are opposed to the proposal, which require them to warn patients of all known health risks.

According to the president of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, an industry trade group, who spoke to the media, the rule would raise health care costs and "create dangerous confusion" for doctors and patients.

The FDA intends to plug a legal loophole that allows branded drugs to warn consumers, but not generic drugs.