JOHANNESBURG – Are generic medicines or ‘imitator’ product as good as the real thing? Many people, especially in South Africa, still feel generic medicines are inferior, because they are cheaper than the branded or ‘innovator’ product.
Many of us are also concerned about the effectiveness of these medicines i.e. are they as safe or as strong as the originator (‘innovator’) medicine?
Peter Jordan, Principal Officer of Fedhealth says we can rest easy.
“Nowadays generics are bio-equivalent to the original branded products, and are a far more affordable medicinal option for many South Africans. They should be considered and recommended, where appropriate,” he says.
Generic drugs may be up to 30 per cent (and often more) cost-effective than the brand-name. “It is reassuring to know that, for the great majority of medicines, generic drugs offer the same safety and efficacy as their more expensive equivalents. The Medicines Control Council (MCC) requires that a generic drug delivers the same amount of the same active ingredient into the bloodstream at the same rate – and they’re very strict about this requirement.”
Generic drugs are less expensive because they don’t require the same investment cost required for the research and development of a new drug – which may total billions. New drugs are developed under patent protection.
The patent protects the investment – including research, development, marketing and promotion – by giving the company the sole right to sell the drug, while the patent is in effect in order to recoup the money they’ve invested. After 15 years, the patent expires and any generic manufacturer can produce a generic equivalent product thereafter and sell it at a lower cost and under a different trade name. Once generic drugs are approved, competition keeps the price down.
Jordan points out that both the branded and generic drug must meet the same standards of good manufacturing practice (GMP). The MCC strictly prohibits manufacturing of drugs in sub-standard facilities, and biannual MCC inspections are conducted to ensure GMP standard.
“Generic firms have facilities comparable to those of brand-name firms. Another important point to consider is that your generic drugs could be made by the same company making the brand-name drug, because brand-name firms are responsible for manufacturing a high percentage of generic drugs,” he adds.
There is fierce competition in the generics market, which is advantageous for South Africans, particularly in tough economic times. The stronger the competition, the more competitive prices become. Yet, South Africa is still ranked low in terms of generic usage, when compared to Western countries worldwide.
Moving forward, and in an effort to provide affordable healthcare for all South Africans, Jordan believes that generics will start to be recognised as sound alternatives to innovator products, and medical professionals will prescribe them with more confidence.
“The Medicines and Related Substances Act 1965 allows pharmacists to inform the public of the benefits of generics. Doctors too will start prescribing generics more readily in the future. Where there are requests from patients for cheaper generic alternatives, medical professionals will have to accede to such requests.”
In terms of medical schemes, generics mean members get far more mileage out of their day-to-day benefits as well as their chronic medication benefit.
“While there may not be generics available for all medications prescribed, there are many on the market. Members should consider generics, as these will assist in stretching their benefits, rather than them running out of benefits early in the year,” says Jordan.
