Generic medicine prices and their distribution in Malta

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the composition of the private pharmaceutical retail market in Malta on the basis of the originator or generic status of available medicines and to observe the change in prices of generics and originators over time. Method: The prices of a sample (n=435) of medicines in Malta were analysed for an eight year period (2002 to 2009). The variation in price in the generic and originator segments was calculated. Thirty-one active ingredients with generics available were identified and the Average Retail Price Per Unit (ARPPU) and the Lowest Retail Price Per Unit (LRPPU) were calculated. The average discount from the originator price was calculated, per compound and also by drug class. Key Findings: The sample population contained 17.2% generic products. The mean drop in the ARPPU was of 10.87% and for the LRPPU of 21.42% for the LRPU. The average discount was 14.59% in 2002 and 37.19% in 2009. Conclusion: The number of generic medicines in Malta has increased in the last eight years, with a consequent decrease in the lowest prices available for the set of medicinal compounds.