Assessment of Generic Drugs in the Caribbean

Abstract

In Caribbean countries the public sector is the largest purchaser of medicines. Patients may receive these medicines either at no cost or for very nominal charges at primary, secondary, or tertiary health care institutions. A limited drug list determined by the country S experts or the national formulary influences decisions for purchase of medications. Patent rights on branded drugs are honored and generic equivalents are not purchased untilpatent expiry. Though cost-containment issues are forceful determinants of the selection of generic products, brand name products may be offered at more economical prices, as in Trinidad. Currently, approximately 35-55% of each country 5 requirement is generic substitution; this is likely to increase. Bioavailability data are usually submitted while tendering for new introductions of generic products.Standard bioavailability laboratories doing drug testing are not present in the region. The Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory in Jamaica undertakes analysis for Caribbean countries on government requests and for a fee for private consumers. Production of generic drugs in the English speaking Caribbean is undertaken predominantly in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Together with the eastern Caribbean countries they are the major buyers of generic products. Certification of the generic equivalent in the country of origin is mandatory. In Trinidad and Tobago the Minstry of Health is drafting a national drug policy which will address evaluation of generic susbstitutes. Concerns about the standards of generic equivalents from prescribers, regulatory authorities, and academia are discussed.

Investigating the Dissolution Profiles of Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, and Zidovudine Formulations used in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

“…Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) holds membership to the World Trade Organization, hence, it abides with the international patent laws, and has done like other developing and developed countries and included generic drugs on their national drug formulary list [2,3]. Generic drugs on the national formulary are also marketed in other areas of T&T. Substitution of generic drugs for brand name drugs is allowed in T&T at the public health facilities if the prescription is written with the international non-proprietary name (INN) or the generic name of the medicine [2].…”

Comparing the Dissolution Profiles of Seven Metformin Formulations in Simulated Intestinal Fluid

“…Trinidad and Tobago, a member of the World Trade Organization, complies with International Patent laws and embraces the benefits of generic drugs, especially that of accessibility and cost, by including them on the national drug formulary (2). Regardless of these advantages, there are concerns about the safety, efficacy, and quality of generic preparations used in this twin-island republic (3).…”