Final answer:
A pharmacist should substitute brand name drugs with less costly generic drugs, which are equivalent and cheaper, unless specified by the prescriber. Generic drugs became widely available thanks to the ANDA process, with around 80% being FDA-approved by 2012.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pharmacist should substitute a higher priced brand name drug with a less costly generic drug unless the prescriber indicates that the brand name is medically necessary. Generic drugs are chemical equivalents of name-brand drugs whose patents have expired. They are typically manufactured and marketed by other companies once the original drug's patent protection ends. Due to this, generic drugs are often significantly cheaper than their brand-name counterparts while maintaining the same therapeutic effects.
For a generic drug to be approved, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must receive scientific evidence that the generic is interchangeable with, or therapeutically equivalent to, the originally approved drug. This process is known as an "ANDA" (Abbreviated New Drug Application). By 2012, approximately 80% of all FDA-approved drugs were available in generic form, offering a less expensive option for patients and healthcare systems. However, it's important to note that the FDA's procedures to approve generic drugs have faced criticism and scandal, particularly in 1989, which highlighted the need for stringent and corruption-free regulatory processes.