UK sets out plans to increase use of generic drugs

Britain’s health ministry set out proposals on Tuesday to increase the use of cheap generic medicines, marking the latest move by governments worldwide to cut back on rising drug bills.

An increasing number of prescription drugs are available in generic versions as patents expire on many top-selling medicines. Generics are significantly cheaper than original brands and their use is being promoted in many countries.

Britain already has a relative high use of generics compared with other European countries, but the government believes there is still scope for more switching.

At present, 83 percent of prescription items are prescribed generically and government officials believe this figure could be increased to 88 percent, since 5 percent of medicines are prescribed by brand even though a generic is available.

If only half of the eligible drugs were switched, officials estimate savings would amount to 20.5 million pounds ($33 million) a year.

“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,” said Health Minister Mike O’Brien.

“Introducing generic medicine substitution will deliver value for money and savings to the NHS (National Health Service).”

The NHS currently spends about 9 billion pounds a year on branded drugs.

Under two options being explored to allow generic substitution, pharmacists would be able to dispense generic medicines instead of branded products, although doctors would be free to stipulate on a prescription form where they do not think it appropriate.

The first option would allow branded drugs to be substituted with generic equivalents, but have a list of products exempt from the scheme. The second option would only apply generic substitution to a selected group of products. A third option would keep the current situation unchanged.

The government is now consulting on the proposals for a 12 week period.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said certain groups of products should be excluded from substitution to ensure patient safety, including vaccines, biosimilars, modified and sustained-release drugs, and medicines with a narrow therapeutic window of safety or efficacy.

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters)