What guarantee is there that generics are true replicas?
The Medicines Control Council( MCC) carries the responsibility of making sure that generic drugs are safe and effective in South Africa. Generic manufacturers have to prove their medicine is bioequivalent to the innovator brand before a product is allowed into the South African market.
Competition has exploded among manufacturers of generic equivalents of brand names, which is driving the cost of generics so low, that some are practically free. Even brand-name products, still protected by patents, are feeling the price squeeze. The increased uptake in generics spells good news for consumers. Generic medicines cost on average between 30 and 80 % less than the original product.
It’ s hardly surprising that generic prescribing is as high as 70 % in most medical practices. Generics are used in all areas of medicine including oncology and approximately 65 % of acute and chronic ailments / diseases. Increased consolidation in the healthcare industry is also having a positive impact on medicine prices and availability. The Pharmacy Act of 1997 and the Medicines Control Amendment Act, among other things, have made it mandatory for dispensers of medicine, be they doctors or pharmacists, to offer the patient a generic substitute if one is available.
Why should I consider generics?
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients, in the same strength and dose. Drugs also contain inactive ingredients that have no healing effect but are used, for example, to give the tablet a protective coating or to bind the ingredients. In most cases, generic drugs are much cheaper than originals and that means you save money. Chat to your doctor or pharmacist to ensure you get the best advice for your unique concerns.
“ Generics are a way of saving millions on healthcare costs in South Africa and more specifically making your medical aid go so much further and work better for you,” says Von Benecke.“ Ultimately, these measures mean generous savings for consumers and are consistent with Government’ s overarching goal of health reform.”
Fast facts about generics
Generic medicine contains the same active ingredient( s) as the original brand of medicine.
Generic medicine has to pass the same strict manufacturing tests and Government quality standards as the original brand of medicine.
Generic does not mean a lower standard of quality.
The same strict manufacturing, quality and safety standards are applied to a generic medicine and original brand of medicine alike.
B-Living Issue 1, 2017 Page 16