Analysis of French generic medicines retail market: why the use of generic medicines is limited

Abstract

The market share of generic medicines in France is low compared to other European countries. This perspective paper provides an overview of the generic medicines retail market in France and how the current policy environment may affect the long-term sustainability. Looking at the French generic medicines retail market and the surrounding regulatory framework, all conditions seem to be in place to create a healthy generic medicines market: the country has well-respected regulatory authorities, generic medicines enter the market in a timely manner and prices of generic medicines are competitive compared with other European countries. Despite the success of the demand-side policies targeted at pharmacists and patients, those targeted at physicians were less successful due to a lack of enforcement and a lack of trust in generic medicines by French physicians. Recommendations to increase the use of generic medicines in France round off this perspective paper.

Societal value of generic medicines beyond cost-saving through reduced prices

“…However, a shift in marketing strategies of originator companies, where originator companies try to switch the patient from the cheaper off-patent medicine to newer, more expensive medicines still under patent is a well-documented reason for a decreased use of some active substances after entrance of generic medicines [60]. Some originator companies even used denigration strategies to limit the use of generic medicines, which has already led to fines imposed by the authorities [61][62][63]. However, one must be careful that the reduced prices of generic medicines do not lead to overuse of certain medicines.…”

“No generics, Doctor!” The perspective of general practitioners in two French regions

“…In France, generics accounted for only 30% of the market volume [ 1 ]. The narrow repertoire of available generics, the impact of initial prescriptions, the circumvention strategies of the pharmaceutical industry, the critical positions taken by some scientific societies, and insufficient acceptability of generics by users have been identified as some of the barriers to the development of the market for generics [ 6 , 7 ].…”

The prescribing of generic medicines in Nigeria: knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of physicians

“…However, there are countries where the prescribing and dispensing of generics versus originators is suboptimal. The reasons for this include physicians' concerns with the safety, efficacy, and bioequivalence of generics versus originators, ease of remembering brand names as well as pharmaceutical company activities promoting concerns with generics (43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50). These differences in perceptions regarding generics have resulted in very different utilization rates for generics across countries.…”