RACP slams new GMiA code
April 30, 2010
THE Royal Australasian College
of Physicians has urged the Generic
Medicines Industry Association
(GMiA) to further strengthen its
proposed code of conduct, which is
currently under consideration by the
Australian Competition and
Consumer Commisssion (PD 13 Apr).
In particular the College says
suggestions in the Code which say
that generic substitution is unlikely
to change health outcomes for
patients “does not stand up to
scrutiny”.
The RACP said that switching
between different generic
medications “can potentially have
substantial negative effects.
“The differing size, shape and
colour of different brands of the
same generic medicine can
produce patient confusion,
compliance problems and negative
health outcomes,” it added.
The RACP’s submission to the
ACCC enquiry also begs to differ
with a GMiA assertion that brand
substitution is likely to create
savings for patients.
“The College would also like the
GMiA to reconsider this in light of
the possibility of a pharmacist
changing a patient’s generic
brands purely as a resulf of industry
promotional activities, discounting
and reward schemes.
“Further, if a generic medicine is
priced under the PBS co-payment,
pharmacists can, and do, charge a
higher price than the PBS
recommended price to consumers.
“As such, brand substitution does
not necessarily result in financial
savings for the patient,” the
submission adds.
The RACP also urged that all
“educational” events directed at
dispensers come under the
reporting code along with
prescribers, saying “it appears most
inappropriate to exclude the
reporting of such events directed at
pharmacists.”
It’s suggested that the GMiA
make further provisions about
influencing the pharmacy channel,
with possible wording:
“Advertisements/promotions must
not offer any personal incentive to a
healthcare professional, pharmacy
assistant or other non-healthcare
professional sales person, to
recommend or supply therapeutic
goods”.
The deadline for submissions to
the ACCC consultation closed
yesterday, and now the GMiA will
have an opportunity to respond to
the issues raised.
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