E-DRUG:Use of generic or brand names in prescriptions (4)
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In Tanzania there is no restriction for prescribers to use a brand name or generic name when writing prescriptions. However, I suggest that the use of generic names ONLY in prescriptions to be practiced by all prescribers especially in developing countries where the basic knowledge of drugs by patients is still low.
I have observed incidences of patients delaying treatment just because a particular brand is not available in pharmacies, neglecting any advice by pharmacists/dispenser to use a similar product from a different company. Patients trust doctors, and one can imagine what language a pharmacist or dispenser can use to convince a patient that Vivian, Diclomol, Diclofame, Olfen, Voltaren, etc... will have the same effect to the patient as they contain the same active ingredient diclofenac sodium.
In a country like mine, where availability of a particular brand is not always consistent, it is not wise to use brand names. I do not support either the use of brand names written in parenthesis after the generic name if a certain country does not restrict registration of a similar product to less than three brands.
Brands can also encourage the hike in prices for a popular product/popular brand, leading to huge profit making by businessmen while exposing a patient to unnecessary expenses. A more serious effect of prescribing using brands is when a doctor prescribes a drug that s/he knows clearly that is not registered in a particular country, but for some reasons he has in his/her briefcase. After a patient has struggled for a week looking for a drug without success and consults his/her doctor for the next steps, the doctor calls the patient and hands it to him from his/her briefcase at any (high) price.These things happen!
Frank Komakoma
Pharmacist
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Frank Komakoma <fkoma@yahoo.com>