V.S. Prasad epub Attitude of Doctors towards utilization of Generic Drugs

Generic drugs are usually sold for significantly lower prices than their branded equivalents. Generic drug manufacturers make drugs for less because they do not invest money into research and development or marketing, and can pass the savings on to consumers. Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that MCI approved generic drug products have met the same rigid standards as the innovator drug. Generic medicines are a key instrument for governments to sustain their healthcare systems and control pharmaceutical expenditures. This contribution of generic medicines to the sustainability of public healthcare systems has been recognized by the High Level Pharmaceutical Forums, ‘Generic medicines provide an opportunity to obtain similar treatments at lower costs for patients and payers, while liberating budgets for financing new innovative medicines’. World Health Organization (WHO) also emphasizes the cost-saving potential of switching consumption from originator products to generic equivalents. The aim of this study is to review using generic medicines by providing an insight into the prescribing generic drugs and its reflection on their profession.