Access to generic medicines

Abstract

Generic medicines have the same active ingredients, therapeutic indication, strength, safety, methods of administration, dosage form, quality and performance characteristics as the originator. Excipients may be different from the originator counterparts. Generally, the prices of generic medicines are less expensive than their originator counterparts. The study aimed to compare prices of generic and originator central nervous system (CNS) medicinal products that are available for retail in community pharmacies in Malta by following these methods: a list of CNS medicinal products available in community pharmacies of Malta was prepared. The medicinal products were grouped according to their therapeutic class. Unit dose prices of originator products were compared to their generic counterparts in Euro. The study included 122 CNS medicinal products, of which 92 medicinal products were generics and 30 medicines were originators. Prices of 16 originators and their generic counterparts were compared. The prices of 14 of the originators were higher than their generic counterparts, and in 2 cases, the prices of originators were lower than their generic counterparts. Lower prices of generic medicinal products when compared to the originator products would save money for patients, and reduce the expenditure of the government on medicines and the healthcare sector, and this may indicate better access to medicines and better health services