19.10.10
No plans on generic medicines, says Lord Howe
The health service has no further plans to force generic medicines on patients, claiming that it would be ‘too prescriptive’.
This is despite the fact that up to 85 per cent of prescriptions for medicines are already for generic medicines.
Health Minister, Lord Howe said: “We have listened to the concerns from the public, patients and other interested parties about legislative proposals to enable pharmacists to replace a branded medicine with a generic medicine.
“It is also not clear whether the proposals would have provided substantial benefit to the NHS, compared to the efforts of frontline staff to implement them. This is why we have decided not to progress with national implementation.
“We want patients to get the drugs their doctors recommend at the best price for the taxpayer. Patients should be reassured that we are looking at more appropriate ways of supporting the use of generic medicines and, in the long term, value-based pricing will help to ensure we pay a price for drugs which better reflects their value.”
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