E-drug: France to promote sales of generic drugs (cont'd)
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I do agree generic share is very low. However, France's high drug
cost is also due to overprescribing and overuse. So HH's comment
is definitely to the point! France's drug prices are among the lowest
in Europe, but the number of pills they take are plenty! In addition I
think there are irrationalities in the therapeutic tradition and choice
of drugs. For us 'northeners' it is strange to see the use of a lot of
cerebrovascular drugs (same as further east), and the high use of
suppositories. I am sure some Prescrire people could comment on
some of this.
Here are two references:
Garattini L, Tediosi F. A comparative analysis of generics markets in
five European countries. Health Policy 2000; 51(3): 149-62.
Garattini S, Garattini L. Pharmaceutical prescriptions in four
European countries. Lancet 1993: 342: 1192
Kirsten
Kirsten Myhr, MScPharm, MPH
Head of Eastern Health Region Drug Information Centre
RELIS Ost
Ulleval University Hospital
0407 Oslo, Norway
Tel.: +47 23 01 64 11(o) Fax: +47 23 01 64 10
+47 22 56 05 85 (h) mobile: +47 416 38 747
myhr@online.no (h)
kirsten.myhr@relis.ulleval.no (w)
www.relis.no
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