Spain launches a new campaign to promote greater generic drug utilisation

Abstract

In Spain, the main goal of pharmaceutical provision is to provide access to all patients to the medicines they need in a timely and appropriate manner, in conformity with the sustainability of medium and long-term provision. These objectives of sustainability and efficiency attach great importance to the promotion of generic medicines. We have been working to promote generic medicines for many years, but since we started later than many of our neighbouring countries, we have not achieved the same level of use. However, we have a reference price system that enables us to set a maximum financing price for all medicines containing the same active ingredient and having the same route of administration once the innovator's patent protection has expired and a generic version has been launched. In the first half of 2010, the generic medicines market experienced significant growth in units, reaching a public market share of 26.02 per cent per prescription. In order to give them fresh impetus and continue working in this line of growth, a specific Plan has been adopted. This Plan emphasises the provision of information and education to citizens; the participation of community pharmacies in providing information to citizens and dispensing generic medicines; the provision of information and training to health professionals on their quality, safety and efficacy; and the streamlining of the marketing authorisation procedure and decision-making process on their public financing.