# \[e-drug\] Generic substitution (cont'd) **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [October 7, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-generic-substitution-contd/17822 "2003-10-07T06:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Francisco\_Rossi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@Francisco\_Rossi](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Francisco_Rossi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-generic-substitution-contd/17822/1 "2003-10-07T06:48:06Z")
E-drug: Generic substitution (cont'd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear friends: I'm afraid the message was not clear enough. Of course the main target of our policy in Colombia is to reduce costs. And we are quite satisfied about the results. Our policy defines the "generic" choice. In other words the substitution option. No interchangeability. What is the difference? Usually when one talks about interchangeability, one talks about doing bio-bio tests as a general mandatory requirement. Substitution is only being able to choose between alternatives, and bio-bio tests are an exceptional requirement. Maybe this situation only exists in Latin America? In narrow therapeutic window drugs you can select options, and we need a lot of options. Our recommendation is not to switch from one to another manufacturer, if possible. This is recommended for both generic and brandname drugs. And if necessary, only with carefully follow up. Francisco A. Rossi. B. Advisor Ministerio de Protecci�n Social, Colombia Carrera 13 No 32-76 Tel 57-1-3365066 ext 2229 fax 57-1-3360165 e-mail: francisco\_rossi@hotmail.com -- To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@healthnet.org To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug To contact a person, send a message to: e-drug-help@healthnet.org Information and archives: [http://www.essentialdrugs.org/edrug](http://www.essentialdrugs.org/edrug)