Proposals that
would allow the dispensing of generic medicines instead of branded
medicines in primary care, resulting in long term savings for the
NHS, were set out today by the Department of Health.
A consultation outlining a range of proposals to allow generic
medicines to be dispensed instead of branded medicines published
today includes options for:
· Keeping the current situation;
· Allowing branded products to be substituted with generic
equivalents but having a list of products exempt from the scheme; or
· Allowing branded products to be substituted with generic
equivalents but only applying this to a selected group of
products.
These proposals would mean in some cases, a patient’s medicine
might look slightly different to the one they were previously used
to. However, the drug itself would be the same.
Doctors are free to prescribe branded or generic medicines, which
pharmacists dispense to patients.
Under the two options exploring flexibility in generic medicine
substitution, health professionals prescribing medicines would be
able to stipulate on a prescription form where they do not think
it appropriate for medicines to be substituted with the generic
version. Prescribers would take into account an individual
patient’s medical history and patients can therefore continue to
receive a specific manufacturer’s product where their treating
clinician judges that this is necessary to meet clinical need.
Pharmacists will be able to dispense generic medicines instead of
branded products unless otherwise stated on the prescription form.
Health Minister Mike O’Brien said:
“We want to make sure that patients and taxpayers are getting the
best medicines at the best price. Where clinically appropriate, it
is only sensible to allow more expensive branded products to be
substituted with the same generic medicines which are just as
effective as the branded version.
“Patient safety is always our top priority. With valuable input
from stakeholders, this consultation includes options that ensure
patient safety by limiting generic medicine substitution as
appropriate and always giving prescribers the flexibility of
opting out so that they can continue to tailor treatment to an
individual patient’s clinical need according to their medical history.
“Introducing generic medicine substitution will deliver value for
money and savings to the NHS which will go directly back into
health services, ultimately benefitting patients and improving the
care they receive.”
The 12 week consultation will close on 30 March 2010 and views on
the proposals are welcome from the public, patients, the NHS and stakeholders.
Notes to Editors
Further details, including the consultation document, The
proposals to implement ‘Generic Substitution’ in primary care,
further to the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) 2009,
and how to respond, can be found on the Department’s website:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/index.htm
There will be consultation events, and details of these will be
published on the NHS Primary Care Commissioning website: www.pcc.nhs.uk/events.
A ‘generically equivalent’ medicine essentially means that the
drug is the same as that in the equivalent branded product.
The Department of Health committed to the introduction of
generic medicine substitution in primary care in the NHS, subject
to discussion with affected parties, in the Pharmaceutical Price
Regulation Scheme 2009.
Substitution will not be allowed where it is not safe to do so.
The criteria for allowing branded medicines to be substituted with
generic medicines would take into account any general clinical or
patient safety concerns in comparison with different
manufacturers’ products.
Subject to the outcome of this consultation, there will be a
notice period before implementation, to enable preparation. Lead
in time for practical implementation will depend on the option
taken forward.
For more information please contact the Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk