Equivalent medicines, one Italian in three doesn’t contemplate them. And financial waste will increase
We all know the phrase after we go to the pharmacy to purchase an over-the-counter product. “Do you need the unique drug or the generic one?” The response of customers is nearly at all times the identical, with the selection of the branded drugs. Indeed, to be exact, a survey carried out by SWG on behalf of Cittadinanzattiva, on a pattern of 2500 grownup residents consultant of the Italian inhabitants, tells us that 1 in 3 Italians has doubts about equal medication, pondering that they’re completely different or much less helpful than the unique ones. In actuality the generic drug has the identical efficacy, the identical dosage, it has the identical molecule because the one it comes from.
It stands out for only one particularity: it doesn’t have a patent that expired 10 or 15 years in the past like nearly all of state-funded medicines (these belonging to class A for instance), and is due to this fact the identical copy. Yet i equal medication proceed to arouse a sure resistance amongst customers, maybe as a result of the generic attribute is deceptive, or maybe as a result of the physician who prescribes the prescription most frequently thinks of medicine and never energetic substances. 20% of the pattern listened to by SWG say that the physician solely signifies the model title drug within the prescription; 36% indicating the energetic ingredient and the branded drug; solely 31% report that the physician solely signifies the energetic ingredient, leaving the affected person the selection between equal and model.
The analysis by Cittadinanzattiva known as “Io Equivalgo” and now in its fifth version, reveals how Italians spend 1.1 billion out of their very own pockets to decide on the unique drug, somewhat than an equal one. However, if there was 100% use of the drug on the reference value, residents may save on copayments. A determine that locations our nation on the backside of the European rating on using equivalents. And which accentuates its negativity if we take a look at the completely different behaviors adopted by residents of the northern and southern areas: within the south, regardless of a decrease common revenue, the equal drug constitutes simply 20% of gross sales, whereas within the north it reaches 40% of affect on nationwide volumes.
A prejudice in all probability due partially to unhealthy data. In truth, on the time of buy nearly two out of three Italians (64%) depend on the physician’s directions, particularly amongst these over 64 and residents within the north-east, however there may be additionally a sure belief within the pharmacist’s directions (23% ), particularly amongst younger folks. However, 47% of the pattern mentioned they had been inclined to buy an equal drug, 34% the one really useful by the physician or pharmacist and 19% the brand-name drug.
There is not any scarcity of examples. The ibuprofen case it is likely one of the most placing. Although there was a scarcity of this drugs up to now, particularly for youngsters, the identical manufacturing firm offered another. Not thought of, nevertheless. The identical factor occurred when a yr in the past it was the flip of amoxicillin, an antibiotic that grew to become unavailable within the model of the best-known model, however may be conceived by way of galenic preparation or with different options available on the market.
Decisive to extend client data and consciousness is the intervention of Federfarma (National Federation of Italian pharmacy homeowners) which, by way of a round, remembers the significance of supporting equal medicines, persevering with not solely to suggest them to residents, but additionally highlighting its benefits. A job, that of the pharmacist, which have to be in step with regulation 405 of 2001 for which the skilled has the obligation to exchange the prescribed drugs (specialty or generic) with the product (specialty or generic) on the lowest value reimbursed by the SSN after informing the affected person.
Even extra so, within the equivalents, the energetic ingredient is identical because the branded product from which it comes and the concentrations within the blood attain related ranges, with a variability that should not go under 85%. However, to seek out out if there are equivalents to the medical prescription and earlier than going to the pharmacy, the Io Equivalgo app is obtainable. You will have the ability to be taught in regards to the completely different formulations (granules, tablets, syrup) and the listing of medicine available on the market, whether or not they’re coated by patent (and due to this fact branded) or now not coated (equal) organized by value ranges. An easy-to-use and related software to counter Istat information which units at 9.5% these Italians who’re compelled to surrender medical care exactly due to the excessively excessive costs of medicines.