Voters trust drugs made in USA, but few are

More than three out of four voters are confident that prescription drugs made in the USA are free from contamination, while fewer than one in 10 feel confident about medications made in India or China, according to a poll released today by the Pew Charitable Trust's Prescription Project.

Yet, unbeknownst to many Americans, an estimated 80% of the substances used to make or package drugs sold here are made in other countries, says Allan Coukell, a pharmacist who directs the medical safety portfolio for the Pew Health Group. And a growing proportion come from India or China. In 2007, 68% of ingredients of drugs sold worldwide came from India or China, vs. 49% in 2004.

Even so, drug recalls soared 400% from 2008 to 2009, which saw a record 1,742, according to the Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2010, to be introduced today by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. Bennet's bill would empower the FDA to order recalls of unsafe batches of drugs.

According to the Pew random nationwide survey of 802 registered voters, 55% say the government should do more to ensure the safety of drugs made in other countries, and nearly nine in 10 back legislation to implement new drug safety measures.