European payer initiatives to reduce prescribing costs through use of generics

The potential of generics policies: more room for exploitation–PPRI Conference Report

“…European countries reported about differences in price between original products and generic medicines, for example, regarding generic omeprazole and simvastatin [20], see also the article [21] generic ACE (angiotensin-converting-enzyme) inhibitors and SSRI's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors). Dr Kristina Garuoliene, from the Lithuanian National Health Insurance Fund demonstrated how her country, with its small population, was able to achieve considerable price reductions for generic versus originator medicines, see Table 1 [22].…”

How do regional sickness funds encourage more rational use of medicines, including the increase of generic uptake? A case study from Austria

“…Despite several interventions, patient adherence to medication remains poor [16][17][18][19][20]. Generic medicines help reduce the costs incurred by public payers [6,21] and are, in accordance with the WHO Nairobi declaration [1], a way of supporting rational use of medicines. It seems, however, that generics policies are not fully exploited in some European countries [22][23][24][25].…”

Health authority perspective on biosimilars

“…Sweden has seen low prices for generics with mandatory generics substitution with the lowest cost generics [1,3], and more recently with monthly auctions [3]. Demand-side measures have also appreciably enhanced the prescribing of generics versus patented products in a class or related class [2,3]. As pointed out, this builds on the accepted premise of substitution as well as similarity of the products in a class [1].…”

“…Key areas include the fact that healthcare systems are under increasing resource pressures due to well-known factors, including an ageing population, stricter clinical treatment targets and the continued launch of new premium priced drugs [2,3]. The latter includes new biological drugs, with almost 300 identifi ed in a quick internet search [1].…”

“…These can cost up to US$25,000/patient/month [4], in part, due to the complexity of production [1]. Their costs have become more visible in recent years with many standard oral drugs now available as low cost generics [2,3]. Sweden has seen low prices for generics with mandatory generics substitution with the lowest cost generics [1,3], and more recently with monthly auctions [3].…”