CVS generic drugs twice as likely to be recalled over safety concerns, investigation finds

An investigation by journalists into quality control of generic drugs found CVS-branded medications were recalled twice as often as its competitors, including Walgreens and Walmart.

Notable examples of recalls include contaminated water at a manufacturing facility, drugs for kids that were found to be too potent and one instance in which nasal sprays were produced on the same equipment as pesticides.

Despite the issues at CVS, the retail giants generic drugs represent less than 1% of recalls nationally. However, over the last decade, 15 manufacturers for CVS were found to have quality control and safety problems, according to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That’s twice as many as Walgreens.

CVS has recalled 133 drugs over the last 10 years related to safety and quality concerns. In some instances, despite warnings from the FDA, tainted drugs remained on store shelves for weeks.

For the full story, read Bloomberg’s investigation at the link below.

Chad Van Alstin Health Imaging Health Exec

Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.

Around the web

More than 40 U.S. healthcare organizations are urging Congress not to make sweeping Medicaid cuts that could result in approximately 7.6 million Americans losing health insurance.

If President Trump initiates a 25% tariff against pharmaceuticals imported from Ireland, it might impact the price for X-ray iodine contrast agents in the U.S. depending what rules are put in place.

The imaging manufacturer expects to spend between $227 million and $340 million on tariff mitigation efforts, leaders said Wednesday.