Give reason to choose generic
October 9, 2014
THE Generic Medicines Industry
Association (GMiA) has argued for
the introduction of policies that
provide a pharmacist, physician and
patient with a reason to choose the
generic medicine.
This meant a reason for a
physician to talk about generics
during consultation and a reason
for consumers to say ‘yes’ at the
dispensary when offered a generic,
GMiA acting ceo Belinda Wood
said.
It would be premature to
talk about specifics, however,
she said, as GMiA was working
collaboratively with stakeholders
on a range of policies to encourage
generic medicines utilisation and
benefit along the supply chain.
In its submission to the Senate
Select Committee on Health, GMiA
said countries including the US and
the UK had “policy levers” in place
to increase use of generics, but no
such policy existed in Australia.
“We therefore need policies that
genuinely improve patient access
to generic medicines and deliver
greater savings while maintaining
the right to choose for prescribers,
pharmacists and patients.”
The submission said the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) was sustainable, outlining
the 2014 Federal Budget’s figures
showing PBS spend was $4.5b
less than expected and that these
savings had been delivered as a
result of price disclosure, applying
only to the area of the PBS where
all generics were listed.
CLICK HERE to see the submission.
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