Ansa Erice I, Agudo Pascual C, Artazcoz Sanz M, Carnicero Giménez de Azcárate J
Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Navarra.
Aten Primaria. 1996 Apr 15;17(6):411-4.
To determine the effect of the use of generics drugs on the costs of pharmaceutical prescription, in order to help decide on their use.
Descriptive study.
Prescriptions from all the doctors in the Health Service of Navarra-Osasunbidea.
Pharmaceutical products with over 5,000 containers consumed during 1994 in Navarra, and with a generic drug which had the same presentation, were selected. The cheapest generics drug was chosen and the hypothetical saving over the brand-name drug was calculated. None of the 285 products in most common use were generics. Use of generics instead of brand drugs would have saved 109,748,344 pesetas. Use of generics drugs instead of commercial products would reduce cost for the drugs studied by 21%. This saving would mean a 1.2% decrease in the overall cost of pharmaceutical prescription.
Although generics drugs are not readily available, their use would decrease the cost of pharmaceutical prescription, with results comparable to those obtained from negotiation with the industry and pharmacists' representatives. The effect would be more long-lasting, as it would mean a change in doctors' prescription habits.
