The impact of generic substitution on the turnover and gross margin of pharmaceutical companies a survey 1 year and 5 years after the introduction of generic substitution in Finland

Timonen, Johanna; Karttunen, Pekka; Bengtström, Marina; Ahonen, Riitta

doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2009.03.004

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…GS stimulated competition in the Finnish pharmaceutical market [11,35]. Reducing the number of employees was one response to this new competition between the companies in Finland [7]. However, the decrease in the number of employees may also reflect increased competition in the pharmaceutical market globally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The purpose of GS is to increase dispensing of less expensive generic medicines and to decrease the price of pharmaceutical products through price competition. GS has successfully promoted the sales of less expensive medicines [5-7] and decreased the prices of pharmaceutical products [8-11] in several countries, and thus has effectively reduced growth in the pharmaceutical expenses of society and patients, for example in Sweden [12] and Finland [13]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have reported pharmacy owners' experiences of the impacts of GS on pharmacies in Denmark [15] and Finland [19]. The impact of GS on the activities of wholesale pharmaceutical companies [20], as well as the impact of GS on the sales of pharmaceutical companies [7] have been explored in Finland. However, there are no published studies concentrating on the impacts of GS on the activities, other than competition [8,10,11], of pharmaceutical companies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results reported in this article are part of a larger study exploring the impact of GS for pharmaceutical companies in Finland. Results concerning impact of GS on the turnover and gross margin of pharmaceutical companies have been published elsewhere [7]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of generic substitution on the activities of pharmaceutical companies - a survey from the companies' perspective one year and five years after the introduction of generic substitution in finland

Timonen

Bengtström²,

Karttunen³

et al. 2010

BMC Clin Pharmacol

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BackgroundMandatory generic substitution (GS) was introduced in Finland on 1 April 2003. The aim of this study was to explore and compare the impacts of GS on the activities of pharmaceutical companies representing mainly original or generic pharmaceutical products in Finland. The self-reported impact of GS from pharmaceutical companies' perspective was explored with a focus on the number of employees, the range of sales packages on the market, the marketing activities, the research and development of new pharmaceutical products and storage of pharmaceuticals.MethodsA cross-sectional postal survey was conducted among pharmaceutical companies with an office in Finland and substitutable medicines in the Finnish pharmaceutical market one year (2004) and five years (2008) after the introduction of GS. Completed questionnaires were returned by 16 original and 7 generic product companies in 2004 (response rate 56%, n = 41) and by 16 original and 6 generic product companies in 2008 (response rate 56%, n = 39). Descriptive statistical analyses were performed.ResultsThe number of employees (2004: n = 6/16, 2008: n = 7/16) and the amount of prescription medicine marketing (2004: n = 7/16, 2008: n = 8/16) decreased in many of the original product companies after the introduction of GS. GS resulted in problems related to the storage of pharmaceuticals in the original product companies shortly after GS was introduced (p = 0.032 between 2004 and 2008). In the generic product companies, the prescription medicine representatives' visits to pharmacies increased at the beginning of GS (p = 0.021 between 2004 and 2008). In addition, GS caused problems with the storage of pharmaceuticals one year and five years after the reform (2004: n = 4/7, 2008: n = 3/6). The differences between original and generic product companies regarding the impacts of GS were not, however, statistically significant. GS did not affect on the range of sales packages on the market or the research activities of the majority of companies.ConclusionsThe study suggests that GS has had impacts on the activities of pharmaceutical companies in Finland. There were also some differences, although not statistically significant, between the surveyed original and generic product companies regarding the self-reported impacts of GS. More investigations are needed in this field.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of generic substitution on the activities of pharmaceutical companies - a survey from the companies' perspective one year and five years after the introduction of generic substitution in finland

Timonen

Bengtström²,

Karttunen³

et al. 2010

BMC Clin Pharmacol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, the reimbursement system does not provide similar encouragement for pharmacists to address underuse. The introduction of mandatory generic substitution by pharmacists in 2003 and a reference pricing system in 2009 has also meant that medication counselling is increasingly focused on the cost of medications 73,74…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medication adherence: a review of pharmacy education, research, practice and policy in Finland

Bell

Enlund

Vainio

2010

Pharmacy Practice (Internet)

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AimsTo describe pharmacy education, research, practice and policy related to medication adherence in Finland since the year 2000.MethodsThe three universities that provide pharmacy education (Åbo Akademi, University of Eastern Finland, and University of Helsinki) completed a structured pro-forma questionnaire regarding education related to medication adherence. A MEDLINE and EMBASE literature search was performed to identify English language peer-reviewed research that reported medication compliance, adherence or persistence. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health was invited to nominate policies and documents related to medication adherence. A narrative review of medication counselling practices and professional service delivery through Finnish community pharmacies was undertaken.ResultsMedication adherence was a theme integrated into obligatory and elective courses for bachelors and masters degree students. The literature search identified 33 English language peer-reviewed research articles reporting medication compliance, adherence or persistence published since the year 2000. Policy documents of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health recognise that poor medication adherence may lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes, and encourage patient participation in treatment decision making. Adherence practice in Finnish pharmacies has been strongly linked to the development of medication counselling services.ConclusionsAdherence research and education has focused on understanding and addressing the contextual factors that contribute to medication nonadherence. Adherence practice in community pharmacies has tended to focus on medication counselling and programs specific to particular disease states. Medication adherence is a topic that is integrated into courses for bachelor’s and master’s level pharmacy students in Finland.

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Norwegian patients on generic antihypertensive drugs: a qualitative study of their own experiences

Toverud

Røise

Hogstad³

et al. 2010

Eur J Clin Pharmacol

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ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate experiences with and attitudes toward generic substitution in patients on antihypertensive medication.Materials and methodsStudy participants were 22 patients from pharmacies in Oslo who had taken brand antihypertensive products as well as substituted generic products. Five focus- group discussions were held.ResultsOnly a few participants claimed to take their medications as prescribed. Most reported low drug adherence before and after generic substitution. Fourteen said that their blood pressure was not under control. Most patients did not know what it meant to get a generic product. They normally accepted what the pharmacy offered, even if they thought the generics were of a lower quality than the brand products. Five participants experienced new side effects. Differences in name, color, form, or taste caused confusion. The patients had been told in the pharmacy that the effect of a generic product was as good as that of the brand product but were still confused, as in most cases the doctor said nothing to them about the substitution.ConclusionGeneric substitution works well in Norway as an economic health strategy, but drug adherence remains suboptimal under those circumstances. Patients are insecure with respect to the difference between the old and the new product when it comes to the drug’s physical attributes and perceived quality. Patients would feel safer if the doctor had a more active role in informing them about the system.

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The impact of generic substitution on the turnover and gross margin of pharmaceutical companies a survey 1 year and 5 years after the introduction of generic substitution in Finland

Cited by 7 publications

References 18 publications

The impact of generic substitution on the activities of pharmaceutical companies - a survey from the companies' perspective one year and five years after the introduction of generic substitution in finland

The impact of generic substitution on the activities of pharmaceutical companies - a survey from the companies' perspective one year and five years after the introduction of generic substitution in finland

Medication adherence: a review of pharmacy education, research, practice and policy in Finland

Norwegian patients on generic antihypertensive drugs: a qualitative study of their own experiences

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