E-DRUG: RFI: Country Attitudes Toward Generic Substitution (4)
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Dear Gary,
There is absolutely no financial interest for generic manufacturers to
produce
counterfeits, since in producing 'real' generics at low cost they can
already
compete profitably in the marketplace.
Our moderator is right, most
counterfeits are of branded medicines, NOT generics, due to the higher
profit
margin possible. It seems especially a problem in developing countries like
in Asia and Africa, where patients may be less educated and are more prone
to
advertising influences, who are bombarded so much by marketing and packaging
that they prefer and actually claim sometimes that one tablet works better
than another simply because of its gold-labelled box or silver foil blister
pack! Advertising and packaging does work, that is why companies spend so
much
money there. Funnily, the reverse works too: I have met patients who claim a
generic tablet worked better than the branded counterpart, simply because
the
former was packaged in gold foil blister strips whereas the latter as loose
tablets in a bottle! Patients seem also to prefer bright packaging or catchy
names to more dull or plain counterparts, regardless of its generic or brand
origin :). Sometimes some patients prefer the more expensive choice, from
the
popular notion that the more a tablet costs the better it works, unless they
are financially burdened. As a pharmacist I actually have to spend quite a
lot
of time explaining the generic concept to patients.
Regarding the theme, as mentioned before, in Malaysia generic substitution
is
highly promoted especially in government hospitals, where prescribing is by
generic name, due to tight drug budgets and good experience with generics.
If
counterfeits or quality of generics become a problem, it would be wiser to
spend money in educating our public and in regulation (quality controls,
raising generic standards, regular market checks for counterfeits etc),
rather
than in abandoning generics per se or giving generics a bad name.
Best regards,
Kae Ting Trouilloud
Pharmacist
Malaysia
kaecherie@yahoo.co.uk
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