China Rx

April 1, 2018

The latest from frequent coauthors (Wall of Silence; Medicare Meltdown; The Treatment Trap) Gibson (senior adviser, Hastings Ctr.; 2014 winner of the highest honor from the American Medical Writers Assn.) and Singh (economic adviser, World Bank) is an informative book exposing how many of the medicines and supplements used in the United States are either imported from China or made from materials originating there. The authors' intent is to create awareness in U.S. citizens of the source of their medications and to explain the risks to health and national security that result from this dependence on one country for drugs. They also provide a clear ten-step plan for bringing pharmaceutical production back to the States. While the authors achieve their goal of exposing these risks, the writing is not especially engaging, making this book difficult to get through. VERDICT Readers with concerns about the political and health ramifications of imported medicine will be well served. While not an entertaining read, it provides important information. Recommended for anyone who takes medication.--Stacey S. Hathaway-Bell, Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Lib., Austin, TX

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
In this alarming expos�, Gibson and Singh explain why the fact that the U.S. no longer makes penicillin and China supplies most of the ingredients in today's prescription drugs is such a big problem and a threat to national security. An enemy could use tainted drugs or even an insufficient supply as a weapon. What if there weren't enough antibiotics? The United States spends billions on nuclear submarines and fighter jets, but depends on a country that is an adversary to make medicines for its military personnel, they write. Too few FDA inspectors are on the job, which can increase the risk of contamination, as already happened with the blood thinner heparin. Drug companies try to keep the country of origin of their ingredients secret because, as the authors note, few Americans think medicines made in China are safe. Nonetheless, Chinese companies make common generic drugs used for, among other things, birth control (levonest), Alzheimer's (donepezil), bipolar disorder (risperidone), and epilepsy (levetiracetam). Readers will want to do more due diligence on the provenance of the drugs in their home medicine cabinets.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)