Use of Generic Medicines

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avika Dixit ◽  
Neeta Kumar ◽  
Sanjiv Kumar

The government is committed to make healthcare affordable as stated in the National Health Policy 2017. An estimated 94 million people in India are pushed into poverty due to expenditure on healthcare. About two thirds of the expenditure is incurred on medicines. Generic medicines are as effective as branded medicines. The initiative of the government and Medical Council of India by making it mandatory for doctors to write generic medicines has raised many concerns related to generic drugs availability and quality. Experience in the USA and Canada support the argument in favor of generic medicine. India is the main supplier of the generic medicines to the USA. There is a need to curtail inducement by pharmaceutical companies to promote their branded drugs as is being done in the USA. The government needs to make generic drugs easily available, strengthen quality control and educate doctors on benefits of using generic drugs.

Author(s):  
Mohd Redhuan Dzulkipli ◽  
Siti Noorsuriani Maon ◽  
Mohamed Azmi Hassali

The objective of this study was to evaluate the population behavioural influence towards generic medicines use in a Klang Valley. A self-administered questionnaire in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, was distributed conveniently. A total of 222 respondents have participated in the study (response rate 57.8%). The majority of the respondents (87.7%) have reported considerable amount of knowledge on the generic medicine availability in the market. In comparison of sociodemographic influence, only household size was found to influence the respondent’s knowledge and curiosity. For the perception, there was a statistically significant difference in attitude scores for respondents who had good level of knowledge (M = 3.322, SD = 0.516) and poor level of knowledge (M = 3.011, SD = 0.591) towards generic medicines; t(220) = –4.180, p < 0.05. In terms of subjective norms, data findings indicate a statistically significant difference in scores for respondents who had good level of knowledge (M = 3.456, SD = 0.704) and poor level of knowledge (M = 3.057, SD = 0.616) towards generic medicines; t(220) = –4.393, p < 0.05. Similarly, this study found a statistically significant difference in perceived behavioural control scores for respondents who had good level of knowledge (M = 3.605, SD = 0.548) and poor level of knowledge (M = 3.121, SD = 0.577) towards generic medicines; t(220) = –6.350, p < 0.05. Therefore, these results reveal that good level of knowledge really influence the level of perceptions among consumers of generic medicines. It is imperative that more initiatives to be introduced by the government to promote the practice to prescribe generic drugs to the population. The need to educate both health professionals and patients on the availability of the cheaper and bioequivalence medicine should be put into formality, thus increasing the awareness of the patient of the generic medicine and next reduce the dependency of the costlier innovator brand medicine in the prescription at both public and private healthcare settings.


Author(s):  
Mingyue Zhao ◽  
Lingyi Zhang ◽  
Zhitong Feng ◽  
Yu Fang

The purpose of this study is to investigate physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice of generic medicine substitutions in China. We conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey on physicians from secondary or tertiary hospitals in China from 2020 December to 2021 April. Descriptive statistical and ordered logistic regression were used for analysis. A total of 1225 physicians were included in the final analysis, and only 330 (26.94%) of them scored 4 or above in the knowledge part, which means that the physicians have a good knowledge of generic substitutions. Of the total, 586 (47.83%) agreed or strongly agreed that generic drugs could be substituted for originator drugs and 585 (47.75%) always or often prescribed generic medicines. The percentage of physicians with a positive attitude toward or that practice prescribing generic medicine is below 50%, which needs to be improved in China. Physicians’ knowledge, their attitude toward generic substitution, if familiar with the policy of generic substitution, and incentives for prescribing generic medicines are influencing factors for the practice of generic substitution. Our studies show that the practice of generic substitution by physicians could be improved by several measures in China. We suggested that the physicians should be taught more about the bulk-buy policy and the generic-originator equivalence evaluation policy. Moreover, government incentives to promote generic substitution should be established. Our study also suggested that physicians with less working experience and female physicians should learn more about generic substitution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3516-3518
Author(s):  
Nawaf Alotaibi

Background: The utilization of generic drugs in Saudi Arabia is under development. Many studies concerning generic drugs and their utilization by the consumers and promotion by health care professionals have been conducted in Saudi Arabia. Most of these studies revealed general unawareness of generic medicines among the Saudi people. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the general perception regarding the generic medicines and branded medicines among the visitors of the Turaif general hospital. Methods: This cross‑sectional study was carried out from December 29, 2019, to January 23, 2020, at Turaif General Hospital, Turaif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was shared with the visitors (N = 527) of the hospital after their agreement, and the data were collected. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 16. Results: The results of this study revealed that more than 50% of the participants were unaware about generic medicines and branded medicines; preferred imported generic medicines over local generics; agreed that the imported generic medicines are of high quality, more effective, and expensive as well. However, almost 50% of the participants were not sure about the quality, efficacy, safety, price, and side effects of the branded medicine. Conclusion: It has been concluded that there is a need to provide awareness programs about branded medicine, imported generic medicine, and locally manufactured generic medicines. Keywords: Branded drugs, Generic drugs, Awareness, Turaif, Saudi Arabia.


10.5912/jcb29 ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel G Brown

The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act (Publ. No. 98-417, 98 Stat. 1585 (1984)), commonly known as the Hatch–Waxman Act (the Act) provides the statutory framework by which most generic drugs are approved for marketing in the USA. Most provisions in the Act concern the standards and procedures the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must follow to approve generic drugs. A relatively small number of the provisions, however, create a framework for resolving patent disputes between the brand and generic pharmaceutical companies. These provisions have been the subject of much recent activity, in the US Courts, in Congress, in the FDA itself and in the White House. Much of the activity revolves around a publication by FDA entitled Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, known colloquially as the Orange Book.Under present FDA practice, the mere listing of a patent in the Orange Book corresponding to a brand pharmaceutical product invokes a number of statutory provisions that confer valuable exclusivity rights on the brand company, and also possibly on one or more generic companies. This situation creates a strong incentive for patentees and brand pharmaceutical companies to list patents in the Orange Book. A number of recent court cases have addressed the remedies and damages available when the listing is found to be improper. Thus far, the most successful means to challenge or prevent improper listings has been through private and governmental enforcement of the antitrust laws.


Author(s):  
Kirthinath Ballala ◽  
Chythra R. Rao ◽  
Aparna S. Chaudhary ◽  
Ashwini S. Bidnurmath ◽  
Akhilesh K. Pandey

Background: India is the largest provider of generic medications globally. Despite this, several essential medicines remain inaccessible to majority of the general population, due to poor awareness, unavailability of drugs, distrust about the quality of the medicines, poor policy implementation and inadequate recommendation by doctors.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 1151 adults in rural and urban areas attached to the community outreach area of a University Medical College. Written informed consent was taken from the participants. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured online questionnaire and analysed using SPSS 15.0.Results: Knowledge regarding generic medicines was found to be low among the surveyed population (666, 57.9%), irrespective of their socio-economic status, education, occupation, place of residence or presence of chronic illnesses. As the knowledge was poor, participants were briefed about the generic medicines and their benefits. Thereafter, the attitude was assessed and found to be favourable among more than half (633, 55.0%) of the surveyed population. The usage of Generic medicines was found to be poor among the respondents. Only 53 (4.6%) of the total study population had switched from branded to generic medicines in the past six months as generic medicines were less expensive compared to their branded counterparts.Conclusions: The awareness about generic drugs and its usage was poor in the surveyed population. A favourable attitude towards generic drugs was achieved by educating the people about their similarity to branded medications. Therefore, there is a need to educate people not only about the quality, safety and efficacy of the generic medicines but also about the government initiatives like the Jan Aushadhi scheme. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Idris Mohammed Idris ◽  
Diyae Nesredin Hassan ◽  
Hanan Abdelkadir Hassen ◽  
Rahwa Zerabruk Araya ◽  
Dawit G. Weldemariam

Generic medicines are clinically equivalent and can be used interchangeably for their intended use. Globally, the usage of generic medicines is highly recommended because of their affordability and accessibility. However, consumers hold a negative perception and attitude of using generic medicine as they consider it poor and having inferior quality compared to branded medicines. This study was conducted to assess the consumers’ general view of generic medicines and in vitro evaluation of a locally produced generic medicine, paracetamol. An analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in three selected hospitals, and in vitro quality control evaluation was done in National Drug Quality Control Laboratory between October 26 and November 21, 2017, in Asmara, Eritrea. A systematic random sampling design was employed, and the data was collected using a questionnaire and a check-list for recording the quality control parameters of paracetamol tablets. A total of 403 respondents were included in the study. The majority of the study participants were females (61.8%). Generally, about half (49.1%) of the respondents choose locally manufactured paracetamol over the imported ones. More than half (68.5%) of the respondents did not believe expensive medicines are of better quality. The main reason consumers prefer the local paracetamol (Azemol) tablet to the imported one was due to their good experience (62.1%). About three-fourths (78.1%) of the consumers also believed that medicines manufactured abroad confer higher quality. At the multivariate level, having educational backgrounds such as elementary ( AOR = 4.19 , 95% CI: 1.251, 14.035) and junior ( AOR = 2.4 , 95% CI: 1.146, 5.028) was associated with preferability to local paracetamol as a pain killer over the brand ones. The in vitro test of the local paracetamol met the standard specification for the identification test, weight variation test, pharmacopeial test, friability test, disintegration test, and dissolution test. In conclusion, the majority of the consumers considered local paracetamol as having an inferior quality when compared with brand paracetamol. However, the reality revealed that the local paracetamol was of the same quality as the brand ones. To facilitate widespread use of generic medicines, healthcare professionals should educate consumers on the advantages of these medicines.


Author(s):  
Mehul Y. Choulera ◽  
Dashputra Amruta V. ◽  
Archana S. Borkar ◽  
Amit P. Date

Background: In an era of rapidly rising health care costs generic medicines provide a less expensive alternative to branded medicines. In addition to reducing the overall health care expenditure, it has been shown to improve adherence. Objective was to study knowledge and perception about generic drugs among patients coming to outpatient department of tertiary care centre.Methods: After ethical approval a cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted. Patients (n=71) were interviewed according to questionnaire in vernacular language by investigator to fill questionnaire.Results: About 28% people think that price of generic drug is less than a branded drug while nearly 61% of people don’t know of it. Only 18.85% participants had taken generic medicine. Trusting efficacy of generic drugs only 30 participants were in favour it. Even they have not seen or heard publicity of generic drugs (61.97%). They (60.56%) opined that generic drugs never prescribe in our country.Conclusions: Limitation in knowledge and perception about generic medicines has been seen among participants.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Bulsara ◽  
Anne McKenzie ◽  
Frank Sanfilippo ◽  
C. D'Arcy J. Holman ◽  
Jon E. Emery

The study explored consumers’ perspectives on generic medicine use in Australia. A qualitative methodology was used to explore the topic, including community participation in the form of forums, focus groups and a panel of seniors. Three consumer forums were held from which a seniors’ panel was formed and a series of focus groups were conducted. Participants demonstrated considerable mistrust of generic medicines. Participants highlighted their uncertainty about the extent of pharmaceutical companies’ influence on health professionals, the mistrust of foreign generic manufacturers and scepticism in their equivalence. In addition, the substitution of generic medicines and variability in packaging added to the overall concern and reported poor compliance. Altering consumers’ beliefs and attitudes about generic medicines might require a more concerted effort to reduce consumer mistrust. Consumers’ beliefs about generic medicines will strongly affect attempts to increase generic prescribing in Australia. Many seniors require multiple medications for a range of chronic conditions. Currently however, the lack of uniformity in information and packaging implies that closer monitoring, greater clarity of information and improved packaging of generic medicines is required. Otherwise, the widespread problems and lower uptake of generic medicines amongst seniors will remain.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanang Yunarto

The government through the Ministry of Health is very serious about revitalizing the use of generic drugs by issuing a policy that stipulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Health No. HK. 02.02/Menkes/068/1/2010 about duty to use generic drugs in government health care facilities. To maximize the use of generic drugs, it is very important to improve understanding and trust of society that generic drugs have the quality, safety and effectiveness are similar to branded drugs. Besides that, there is a lot of research and the study of generic drugs will increase the knowledge, so that health professionals, especially doctors do not hesitate to prescribe generic drugs. Quality used as a basis of reference to establish the truth of the eficacy and safety. For availability of certain products can be demonstrated in vitro. Studies of drug dissolution gave the same indication with drug bioavailability. Ideally, in vitro drug dissolution correlates bioavailability in vivo. From the research results of dissolution test generic drugs Amoxiciline 500 mg tablets, Isosorbit Dinitrat 5 mg tablets and Omeprazole capsules compared to branded drugs show no less generic drugs than branded drugs, dissolution test results even better generic drugs


Author(s):  
Manasa C. R. ◽  
Kalpana L. ◽  
Veena R. M.

Background: Use of generic drugs and its availability is one of the less discussed topics in the medical education but at the same time holds a lot of importance in providing affordable health care to the general public.Methods: All 150 II MBBS students and 80 interns who were willing were included in the study. After explaining the aims and objectives and obtaining the informed consent, a set of 14 semi structured questionnaire were given to the students through an online link. A total duration of 15 minutes was given to complete the questionnaire and submit to prevent bias.Results: Most of the students 98 (75.4%) believe that generic drugs are non-inferior to branded drugs compared to interns 33 (49.3%) who are still doubtful about its efficacy (p=0.0003). Most of the students 101 (77.7%) and interns 52 (77.6%) think that composition, dose and indications are same as branded drugs (p=0.987). 75 (57.7%) students and 25 (37.3%) of interns know that generic medicines are marketed only after the expiry of patent period of innovator drug (p=0.005). About 102 (78.5%) students and 44 (65.7%) interns prefer to prescribe generic drugs to their patients (p=0.061). Only 34 (26.2%) students and few interns 19 (28.4%) knew about jan aushadhi sugam app (p=0.744).Conclusions: Lack of awareness about the jan aushadhi sugam app and location of nearby generic stores was acting as the main hindrance in optimal utilization of generic drugs.


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