General Perception Regarding The Generic and Branded Medicines among the Visitors of the Turaif General Hospital

Background: The utilization of generic drugs in Saudi Arabia is under development. Many studies concerning generic drugs and their utilization by the consumers and promotion by health care professionals have been conducted in Saudi Arabia. Most of these studies revealed general unawareness of generic medicines among the Saudi people. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the general perception regarding the generic medicines and branded medicines among the visitors of the Turaif general hospital. Methods: This cross‑sectional study was carried out from December 29, 2019, to January 23, 2020, at Turaif General Hospital, Turaif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was shared with the visitors (N = 527) of the hospital after their agreement, and the data were collected. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 16. Results: The results of this study revealed that more than 50% of the participants were unaware about generic medicines and branded medicines; preferred imported generic medicines over local generics; agreed that the imported generic medicines are of high quality, more effective, and expensive as well. However, almost 50% of the participants were not sure about the quality, efficacy, safety, price, and side effects of the branded medicine. Conclusion: It has been concluded that there is a need to provide awareness programs about branded medicine, imported generic medicine, and locally manufactured generic medicines. Keywords: Branded drugs, Generic drugs, Awareness, Turaif, Saudi Arabia.

Perspectives of patients and consumers on the use of generic medicines

INTRODUCTION Access to medicines constitutes a public health challenge worldwide. Promoting utilization of generic medicines is one of the strategies that has been proposed to optimize pharmaceutical spending and thus allow greater coverage. However, its use is not yet widespread enough. This study seeks to explore the perspectives and acceptability to the use of generic medicines from patients and consumers. METHODS We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a evidence synthesis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We identified four systematic reviews that together include 47 primary studies, of which one corresponds to a randomized trial. A low rate of patients or consumers has a negative perception regarding generic medicines, including dimensions such as risk, quality, safety, risk of adverse effects, among others.

The Impact of Reimbursement Practices on the Pharmaceutical Market for Off-Patent Medicines in Slovakia

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of selected legislative initiatives and their implementation for off-patent medicinal products in Slovakia compared with the rest of the Visegrád Group (V4 countries).Methods: We analyzed the development of applications for the reimbursement of generic and biosimilar drugs. Particular emphasis was placed on a) the availability and penetration of biosimilars from 2006 to 2020 in Slovakia, b) a comparative analysis of biosimilars in V4 countries based on the national reimbursement lists of medicinal products for August 2021. Data relating to the sales of generic and biosimilar medicines in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia were based on the IQVIA MIDAS MAT July 2021.Results: The number of applications for the reimbursement of generic drugs decreased from 296 in 2016 to 165 in 2020. In financial terms, the sales of generic medicines in Slovakia increased from 21.7% in 2015 to 22.3% in 2020. Over the same period, the sales of generic drugs in Poland fell from 40.4% in 2015 to 35.0% in 2020, from 26.2 to 22.1% in Hungary, and from 29.6 to 20.4% in Czechia. When considering the 66 biosimilars registered by the European Medicines Agency 38 drugs (58%) were available on the Slovak market as of August 1, 2021; this compared to 32 drugs (48%) in Poland, 38 drugs (58%) in Hungary, and 40 drugs (61%) in Czechia. In financial terms, the sales of biosimilars in Slovakia increased from 0.94% in 2015 to 2.00% in 2020. Over the same period, the sales of biosimilars in Poland increased from 0.59% in 2015 to 1.29% in 2020, from 0.72 to 2.23% in Hungary, and from 0.76 to 2.15% in Czechia.Conclusion: To intensify the use of generic and biosimilar medicines, we suggest the comprehensive re-evaluation of combinations of the three-threshold entry, the amount of mandatory price reductions, and external reference pricing requirements (as the average of the three lowest prices among the official prices of a medicinal product in other Member States) for generic and biosimilar drugs. We also suggest cancellation of the exception from the fixed co-payment of the insured.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Factors Influencing the Selection Student of Generic Medicine

Background: Generic replacements for branded medicines have become a typical practice among registered pharmacists all over the world. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the influence of the knowledge and attitudes of PharmD students and other factors on the selection of unbranded medicines.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted through Google Forms to collect data using self-reported questionnaires. The data was collected over a period of 3 months, from January to March 2021, among junior level pharmacy students who are currently undertaking a PharmD course at the King Saud University, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: The mean age of the students was 21.05± (SD = 1.03), majority of students 70.2% (n = 134) were able to define the term generic medicine, and about 65% (n = 123) were able to correctly define bioequivalence. More than half of the students, 56.5% (n = 108) lacked knowledge about the pharmacokinetic parameters of generic products. Meanwhile, the majority, 85% (n = 122), supported generics over branded medicines, and about 66% (n = 99) agreed that wider use of generic medicines would lead to less money required for the research and development of new pharmaceuticals.Conclusion: Findings revealed that most pharmacy students possess sufficient knowledge of generic medicines, although knowledge in some aspects remains lacking.

The effect of generic medicines e-learning course via Web 2.0 tools on knowledge of pharmacists and pharmacy students

Background: Research scoping on e-learning and novel web 2.0 tools in pharmacy education in Arabic Language Speaking Countries (ALSCs) is scarce. Aim and methods: Therefore, this study aimed to develop an online educational course on generic medicines to reveal the views of Arab pharmacists and pharmacy students about emerging technologies in transferring pharmaceutical knowledge and assess the differences in knowledge scores before and after the online educational intervention and the differences in knowledge scores among study subgroups. Results: The total mean knowledge score after attending the online educational intervention significantly increased, from 4.9±1.68 to 7.75±1.75 (t(86) = 4.6, p<0.001). Providing an online course using web 2.0 tools to transfer pharmaceutical knowledge was viewed as highly positive (mean score = 62.23±6.08, range 45-75 points). Significant sex and status differences were identified post-assessment. Female participants and pharmacists had higher knowledge scores compared with males and students, respectively. Conclusion: The online course development was successfully implemented using Schoology as an online learning management system (LMS) and Facebook as a social network site (SNS). Arab pharmacists and pharmacy students found e-learning and web 2.0 tools to be effective novel technologies in transferring pharmaceutical knowledge.

Biological medicinal products: reference and biosimilar products – selected issues

Biological therapies are being used in many chronic conditions. Development of biosimilar medicines gives chances for wider access to biological treatment. The aim of the review was to present legal regulations of the marketing authorisation of biological medicines in the context of biosimilars medicines. The article focuses on the legislation of the European Union, which was established on the beginning of the XXI century and is very complex and strict. In the first part of the article were described basic terms in this field, such as biological medicine, biosimilar medicine, reference medicine and generic medicie. It also shows differnces between biosimilar and generic medicines. Main difference concerns the manufacturing process, because of which biosimilar will never be identical to the reference medicine. Next part concentrates on the proces of registration of new biological medicines, especially in the area of medicines’ indications to use and controversies related to them. The last part presents issues of the safety monitoring of biological medicines on european level. The purpose of european law in that field is to guarantee every registred biologic therapy is safe for the patients.

Present scenario of generic medicines in India: A comparative study

Drugs or medicines are those which are used for treatment, diagnosis, mitigation and prevention of diseases. But it’s very expensive. Not or all but for lower and middle class people taking treatment is very difficult because of the cost of the medicines. Many deaths are caused because the patient cannot afford the cost of the medicines. The entry of generic medicines in market brought a revolutionary change in healthcare system and the market share is continuously increasing. The poor and needy sections of the society are getting benefitted because these are authentic, reliable, secure, affordable and accessible for all. Now there is an option available against the high cost branded medicines. Government of India is taking lot of steps to promote the availability of generic medicines both in rural and urban areas and also taking steps to aware people that it is equally safe and effective as that of branded medicines. Many pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing generic medicines and making them available in market through retail outlets. E-pharmacies are also functioning delivering generic medicines at home. Government has opened thousands of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) across the country where one can get generic medicines at much lower cost. The present article is based on the study to know the availability of generic medicines through PMBJK, comparison of prices between generic and branded medicines, reasons for the lower price of generic medicines and except PMBJK where generic medicines are available.