Very few people would say that pharmaceuticals affect our life in a major way. But it is a fact that most of us since our birth depend on pharmaceuticals in one-way or other. There is no age limit to who will use pharmaceuticals be it babies, teenagers or the elderly. The industry is governed by FDA Compliance which makes sure the medicines we take have been assessed for risk.

Pharmaceuticals play a vital role in our day-to-day living. So it is likely that we are concerned over the rising costs of medication. Even though pharmaceuticals might cause a strain on your finances, there is little to be done about it. In some circumstances, a person will have to spend money on certain drugs so that they can live a healthy life, no matter the cost. So the prices of drugs need to be watched and regulated so that pharmaceutical companies do not rip off patients. As of now many market leaders are found to price their monopoly drugs at a very high rate.

The research and development of new drugs is something that big pharmaceutical companies are involved with. A big amount of money is invested in the R & D branch of the industry. The miracle drug which can cure many ailments is something that every business is interested in finding. However once any drug has been developed it must be passed by the regulating authority, the FDA. FDA compliance governs the stages of research, development and manufacture that have been undergone for any new drug before being exposed to consumers. Only after it has been approved and given its quality assurance can a drug be sold to the public.

Animal and human tests are conducted on the drugs before they are given to the FDA for approval. During these tests the effectiveness of the drug will be confirmed and side effects will be examined and improved. All this research work is necessary so that the ultimate consumer gets nothing but the best.

The pharmaceutical industry is massively competitive and continues to be so as the medicines market grows. In order for companies to have a fair chance, the marketing of drugs is also regulated by the FDA.

The potential for electronic medical records is touted by both health care professionals and representatives in government to cut costs and improve quality in health care. Even with this encouragement physicians are not implementing this change with any speed.

According to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported by the Associated Press, hospitals are not moving toward electronic medical records systems quickly.

Nationwide two percent or less of the hospitals have embraced the technology of the electronic medical records, and eight to eleven percent have implemented a starter electronic system, this from the NEJM survey. These hospitals verbalize the problem for moving to electronic records is that it costs lots of money.

Is there a standard software for the electronic records? To actually be useful in the way they should be these systems have to be standardized or at least compatible between providers of health care and the insurance companies.

To make sure this move to electronic records actually happens the Obama administration, similar to the Bush Administration, has made electronic medical records a priority. It is part of the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 and they’ve put $19 billion aside to provide assistance for this transition