E-drug: Generic substitution (cont'd)
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To establish a national/regional program for generic substitution/
interchangeability, is a one-time cost; to maintain the program, and
for the long run, is absolutely less costly than recommending brand
drug products, knowing for facts that people in the developing
countries have to choose between costly treatment and very basic life
expenses. Developing countries have neither lack of personal nor
lack of money to establish such program. With respect, the problem
is lack of will. If an official representative, with no existing evidence,
believes that costly brand name drugs are superior to generic drugs
therefore should not be substituted someone wonder what a lay
person there believes. Ethically, this is very troubling. Unless an
international agency with clear mission to put some pressure on the
developing county agencies to do what is needed to be done, the
problem will continue. After all, the only looser is poor people in
developing countries and the only winner is the brand drug name
companies and their representative in the developing countries.
Sana R. Sukkari
Oncology/Palliative Care Pharmacist
Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital
Burlington ON
Canada
e-mail: ssukkari@jbmh.com
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