GPs mistrust pharmacists
October 18, 2010
TWO thirds of Australian doctors
do not trust pharmacists to
dispense prescriptions exactly as
prescribed, according to the
recently released Originators vs
Generics GP Poll.
“While pharmacists often claim
that generics are a cheaper
alternative to originator
medications, they are usually
referring to the price the pharmacy
pays for the medicine, not the end
user,” said Dr Jason Cooke, DMC
Medical Centre, Drummoyne, NSW.
“While generics are the
bioequivalent of their originators –
and therefore theoretically
comparable in safety and efficacy –
it is only the active ingredients that
are consistent across the board,”
he added.
The survey results, based on
answers from 101 GPs also found
that eight in ten doctors believe
that substituting brand medications
with generics has the ability to
confuse patients.
Celebrity pharmacist Gerald
Quigly weighed in on the debate
saying that in his estimation generic
substitution could lead to higher
rates of dosing errors, because of
the difference in packaging, colour,
size and shape between originators
and their generic counterparts.
“For elderly patients, patients
taking multiple medicines or those
who lack the mental capacity to
understand a medicine switch,
accepting generic substitution may
lead to incorrect dosing during the
change-over period,” he said.
“If generic substitution leads to
better health delivery to all
Australians, then it should be
enacted.
“But if it’s not delivering a better
system, if it’s confusing, if it’s
increasing the risk of patients
taking the wrong medicine at the
wrong time, then we potentially
have a serious situation on our
hands,” he added.
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