Most consumers unaware of cheaper medicine alternatives

More than 85 per cent of consumers are not aware of the difference between branded and generic medicines, a Malta Medicines Authority survey has found – a lack of awareness which is likely to be costing them dearly.

It means that most people do not know they can ask their pharmacist for a medicine that has the same active ingredient as the branded version but usually costs much less.

“There is no difference between the generic and the originator medicine in terms of effect. There may be differences in other ingredients, such as the flavour of syrups,” Malta Medicines Authority CEO Patricia Vella Bonanno said yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of an information campaign about medicines, Dr Vella Bonanno pointed out that people have a right to ask for the alternative product and the doctor or pharmacist should help patients by giving advice tailored to their needs.

When a new active ingredient is placed on the market, it is called an originator drug. It is patented for some years to allow the company to plough back the money it spent on the research it carried out to come up with the product.

However, after the expiry of that period, generic medicines can be manufactured with the same active ingredient and, therefore, the same effect in terms of treatment. Often, the reason the brand is prescribed, even if generics are on the market, is because the name has “stuck in people’s minds” after being the only such drug on the market for some time. The authority wants to empower consumers to make better decisions about the medicines they buy.

Few people realise the amount of work that goes into ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines before they reach the consumer. Through the medicines authority, the whole distribution chain of medicines is regulated, from their manufacture or importation to the point of sale to the public. Before a medicine is authorised to be placed on the market, a pharmaceutical company needs to submit data on the quality, safety and efficacy of its product to the authority, which would then thoroughly assess the application before authorising its sale.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, who was present at the launch, said the authority authorised 550 medicines last year. The more products on the market the better for consumers, he said. In fact, since the establishment of the authority seven years ago, the pharmaceutical sector underwent a significant reform. Today, he said, Malta had some 25 licensed manufacturers and importers, 70 licensed wholesale dealers and more than 200 licensed pharmacies.

Consumers are being encouraged to learn more about their medicines through a website launched recently by the authority . Alternatively, more information can be found on the Facebook page or by calling helpline 2343 9111 between 9 a.m. and noon. A list of authorised medicines can be found on www.maltamedicineslist.com. Leaflets will be available at pharmacies and will be delivered door to door in a number of towns and villages.