“Patients need not worry about receiving generic medication,” says Health Dept
Several patients have complained to Bonus after being given medicine with a different name than the one prescribed.
POLOKWANE – Patients who receive a generic form of the medication instead of the prescribed medicine, should rest assured as the effects are the same. This is according to Health Spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, who said the chemical components in both are the same.
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Several patients have complained to Bonus after being given medicine with a different name than the one prescribed. Shikwambana said the active ingredients are the same in both types of medicine.
“Doctors do explain to patients what the medicine entails and how it should be taken. If a clinic or a hospital pharmacy does not have a specific medication, but has the generic version, this would in turn be prescribed.”
He said if patients feel uncomfortable using the medicine that was prescribed, they may ask for the non-generic version but this, however, is more expensive.
