Increased use of generic medicines planned to save cash

Generic medicines are cheaper

Proposals to increase the prescription of cheaper generic medicines in primary care have been set out in England.

The Department of Health is keen to use more generic medicines as they are less costly than the branded equivalent.

The suggestions include establishing a list of products for substitution, and another list of items that would be exempt.

The proposals will be put out for public consultation over the next 12 weeks.

Generic medicines - which must contain the same active ingredient as the branded originals, and can be marketed once the originator's patent protection has expired - can save substantial costs.

We want to ensure patients and taxpayers get the best medicines at the best price Mike O'Brien Health Minister

The Department of Health stressed that whichever option was implemented, health professionals would be able to stipulate on a prescription form where they do not think substitution would be appropriate.

Health Minister Mike O'Brien stressed patient safety was the top priority.

But he said: "We want to make sure that patients and taxpayers are getting the best medicines at the best price.

"Where clinically appropriate, it is only sensible to allow more expensive branded products to be substituted with the same generic medicines which are just as effective as the branded version.

"Introducing generic medicine substitution will deliver value for money and savings to the NHS which will go directly back into health services, ultimately benefitting patients and improving the care they receive."

Neal Patel, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said a number of medicines had no generic equivalent, and substitution was not always appropriate on clinical grounds.

He added: "Medicines that are thrown away by patients offer little value to the NHS."

Richard Barker, of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: "It is important to ensure that patients' health and safety is not compromised in the implementation of this new policy."

Warwick Smith, director of the British Generic Manufacturers Association, said the proposals offered a "perfect balance" between the need for the NHS to gain maximum value from medicines, and unfounded concerns that patients would lose out.

"The reality is that generic medicines are approved to the same standards of safety, quality and efficacy as the equivalent brands and offer cost savings of up to 90%."