Policies and Practices Catalyzing the Use of Generic Medicines: A Systematic Search and Review

Sultan, Amir; Kiflu, Kibrewossen

doi:10.4314/ejhs.v31i1.24

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Many governments have considered using generic drugs to cope with increasing healthcare costs and medical expenses. 14,15 Such efforts required multi-faceted global policies, defining the norms, stakeholders, and rights for drug substitution. Substitution to generic drugs aims to stimulate lower prices through competition and access to cheaper options.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive review addressing the factors influencing generic drug substitution

Jouni,

Mansour,

Hatem

et al. 2023

Journal of Generic Medicines

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Generic drug substitution is a common practice in healthcare systems worldwide to promote cost-saving treatments while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness. Several factors influence this substitution, including regulatory policies, safety and efficacy considerations, patient and physician preferences, and market dynamics. This review comprehensively analyzes how these factors interact and influence generic drug substitution in healthcare settings and across various therapeutic classes and highlight the importance of balancing cost-saving measures with maintaining patient safety and therapeutic efficacy. Policies and guidelines established by health authorities in each country influence the approval, interchangeability, and substitution of generic drugs. Bioequivalence and therapeutic equivalence are critical factors, particularly in drugs with narrow therapeutic indexes. Moreover, physicians’ acceptance and willingness to prescribe generic drugs, as well as patient acceptance and compliance with generic drug use, play a vital role in promoting generic substitution.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive review addressing the factors influencing generic drug substitution

Jouni,

Mansour,

Hatem

et al. 2023

Journal of Generic Medicines

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show abstract

“…However, pharmaceutical companies could have influenced physicians’ prescribing behaviour, which could indirectly affect their patients, by encouraging them to use a more expensive brand instead of an equally effective, lower-cost generic. 19,26 Hence, promoting generic prescribing, substitution and guiding the patients through simple methods would increase the acceptability of generics. These methods include pamphlets and medical brochures provided in pharmacies and health clinics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, perception and acceptance of generic drugs in the general Lebanese population: A cross-sectional survey among adults

Hatem

Itani

Ajrouche

et al. 2023

The Journal of Medicine Access

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Background: Many governments encouraged generic use to enhance health equality and minimise health expenditure. The lack of knowledge and acceptance of generic medicines are the main barriers to their use. Objectives: This study aimed to assess population knowledge and perception towards generic drugs, identify their primary sources of information and examine which variables are independently related to their acceptance. Design: An observational cross-sectional study was performed targeting the Lebanese adult population. Methods: Overall, 385 patients participated in the study. Data were collected using a uniform survey from six public healthcare centres. Results: The participants reported a distrust towards generic drugs; they either said that they were not as effective as the brand (36.9%), were of less quality than the brand (38.5%) or had more side effects than the brand (38.4%). Around 52% said they would never buy a generic drug, and two-thirds (68.6%) preferred using a brand drug over a generic one. After adjusting for socio-demographics, a high income (odds ratio (OR) = 3.7), knowing that brands and generics have the same active ingredients (OR = 2.28) and that brands and generics were equally effective (OR = 6.46) were the strongest independent predictors for the willingness to buy generic drugs. Conclusion: A lack of knowledge and misperceptions about generic drugs limited the use of generic drugs, and therefore must be addressed.

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“…A study found that the cost of originator brand treatments for diabetes was generally high, with all brand treatments costing more than one day's wages. All Brands in private pharmacies were much more affordable than in public hospitals (17). Another study revealed that patients living in low-income countries would have to spend more to obtain a one-month supply of brand insulin compared to patients in high-income countries, with a difference of 2.37 versus 0.46 in terms of days' wages [21].The results of the affordability analysis show that all oral anti-diabetic medicines are affordable except for insulin injection medicines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Availability and affordability of antidiabetic medicines based on WHO/HAI standard survey methods in Iran

Hayati

Karami

2023

Preprint

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Background: Adequate access and affordability of anti-diabetic medications are essential for effective diabetes management. The present study seeks to investigate the availability and affordability of anti-diabetic medications in Iran. Methods: In order to investigate the significance of access to anti-diabetic medicines and the financial ability of patients to pay for them, data was collected from 68 private pharmacies and 11 government pharmacies in a relatively deprived province in west of Iran, utilizing a modified methodology developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI). Results: the findingsshowed the total mean availability of anti-diabetic medicines in in both the public (52.88%) and private (55.99%) sectors, the availability of metformin, especially the generic type, is the highest in both the private (100%) and public (88.3%) sectors. Insulin, especially the brand type, has the highest level of availability in both the private (93.3%) and public (91.4%) sectors. The lowest level of access is related to the drug depagliflozin in both the private (21.5%) and public (38.1%) sectors. Also the level of affordability for all antidiabetic medicines was suitable except for insulin. Conclusion: The availability and affordability of antidiabetic medicines in Iran is relatively acceptable compared to other similar studies in developing countries. The Iranian pharmaceutical system can be a good model for other developing countries by using the strengths of the generic system and replacing brand medicines.

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Policies and Practices Catalyzing the Use of Generic Medicines: A Systematic Search and Review

Cited by 11 publications

References 23 publications

A comprehensive review addressing the factors influencing generic drug substitution

A comprehensive review addressing the factors influencing generic drug substitution

Knowledge, perception and acceptance of generic drugs in the general Lebanese population: A cross-sectional survey among adults

Availability and affordability of antidiabetic medicines based on WHO/HAI standard survey methods in Iran

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