Our addiction to cheap generic medicines makes a mockery of the NHS’s green ambitions

Generic medicines are those whose patent protection has expired, and which may be produced by manufacturers otherthan the innovator company. Use of generic medicines has been increasing in recent years, primarily as a cost savingmeasure in healthcare provision. Generic medicines are typically 20 to 90% cheaper than originator equivalents. Theobjective is to provide a high-level description of what generic medicines are and how they differ, at a regulatory andlegislative level, from originator medicines. It describes the current and historical regulation of medicines in theworld’s two main pharmaceutical markets, in addition to the similarities, as well as the differences, between genericsand their originator equivalents including the reasons for the cost differences seen between originator and genericmedicines. This article refers to the general generic drug approval process in India, USA, and Japan. They havedifferent regulation and approval process.

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Use of generic medicines: Perspectives of consumers living in urban and suburban areas of Klang Valley in Malaysia

Journal of Medical Marketing Device Diagnostic and Pharmaceutical Marketing ◽

10.1177/1745790413516971 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 242-250

Author(s):

Salmiah Mohd Ali ◽

Mohamed Mansor Manan ◽

Mohamed Azmi Hassali ◽

Yaman Walid Kassab ◽

Choon Wai Yee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Generic Medicines ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

Klang Valley

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Analysis of the Italian generic medicines retail market: recommendations to enhance long-term sustainability

Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research ◽

10.1586/14737167.2014.950234 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pieter Dylst ◽

Arnold Vulto ◽

Steven Simoens

Keyword(s):

Retail Market ◽

Generic Medicines

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Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Generic Substitution in China: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157749 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7749

Author(s):

Mingyue Zhao ◽

Lingyi Zhang ◽

Zhitong Feng ◽

Yu Fang

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Generic Substitution ◽

Generic Drugs ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Generic Medicine ◽

Generic Medicines ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ordered Logistic Regression ◽

Tertiary Hospitals

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.

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