Tsiantou V, Zavras D, Kousoulakou H, Geitona M, Kyriopoulos J
Department of Health Economics, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2009 Oct;34(5):547-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2009.01037.x.
The penetration of generic drugs in the Greek pharmaceutical market is placed among the weakest in the EU. The Greek regulatory framework does not systematically support the development of this subsector and physicians are not provided with incentives for prescribing generics. The aim of this study was to investigate the prescribing profile of physicians in Greece with a focus on the factors that influence their decision on generics prescribing.
A structured questionnaire was sent by mail to a random national sample of 1463 physicians, stratified by sex, specialty and geographical region.
The response rate was 82.3%. Greek physicians have a positive view on generics but they prefer to prescribe the original products. According to our analysis, physician's age and their opinion on generics' efficacy and effectiveness are identified as important determinants of their prescribing decision. The primary reason that could make them change their prescribing habits is the appearance of side-effects. Patients' insurance coverage and income, as well as the drug cost are also referred as factors that influence their prescribing decision. Despite the fact that they do not usually prescribe generics in their clinical practice, they are willing to substitute an original drug by a generic product.
Our findings suggest that Greek physicians could be persuaded to prescribe generic medicines, if a generic promotion policy was introduced in the country. To develop such a policy, a set of supply side and demand-side measures should be implemented along with provision of information on generics to physicians during their education and clinical practice.
仿制药在希腊药品市场的渗透率在欧盟国家中处于最低水平。希腊的监管框架并未系统地支持该子行业的发展，并且未给予医生开具仿制药的激励措施。本研究的目的是调查希腊医生的开药情况，重点关注影响他们开具仿制药决策的因素。
通过邮件向全国1463名医生的随机样本发放结构化问卷，样本按性别、专业和地理区域分层。
回复率为82.3%。希腊医生对仿制药持积极态度，但他们更倾向于开原研药。根据我们的分析，医生的年龄以及他们对仿制药疗效的看法被确定为其开药决策的重要决定因素。可能促使他们改变开药习惯的主要原因是副作用的出现。患者的保险覆盖范围和收入以及药品成本也被提及为影响他们开药决策的因素。尽管他们在临床实践中通常不开具仿制药，但他们愿意用仿制药替代原研药。
我们的研究结果表明，如果希腊引入仿制药推广政策，希腊医生可能会被说服开具仿制药。为制定这样一项政策，应实施一系列供应方和需求方措施，并在医生的教育和临床实践过程中向他们提供有关仿制药的信息。
