New Delhi, Aug 26
While the US sources cheap medicines ranging from everyday painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to critical antibiotics and chemotherapy agents from China, increasing dependency on the country may introduce serious risks, according to a report.
Citing the US trade data, the report in US political website The Hill stated that America “imports 95 per cent of ibuprofen, 91 per cent of hydrocortisone, 70 per cent of acetaminophen and up to 45 per cent of penicillin from China”.
The report flagged diminished oversight and questionable product quality on products from China and suggested mitigating the exposure with a comprehensive strategy.
It noted how “quality control issues associated with Chinese-made generics continue to raise alarm”.
This includes "documented instances of ineffective anesthetics, blood pressure medications that fail to reduce pressure, and non-functional laxatives,” stated the report, citing 2025 research by the Brookings Institution.