South Africa’s first generic week was an ideal opportunity to inform health care providers and consumers about the law and the generic medicines industry, Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Monday.
”We believe that the pursuit of high levels of ‘drug literacy’ is an absolutely critical goal. Our ability to manage major illnesses effectively depends not only on access to medicines but on the correct use of such medicines,” she said in a letter commending the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ (NAPM) generic week, which began on Monday in Cape Town.
Tshabalala-Msimang said: ”Lower priced medicines will reinforce cost containment measures taken by medical aid schemes.”
She said more affordable medicines could extend treatment options, especially in the public health sector, where fixed budgets placed limits on treatment.
For consumers, lower medicine prices would also stretch medical aid cover and make out-of-pocket payments easier.
”Pharmacists have a duty, where the original drug is prescribed without a prohibition on substitution, to assist the consumer to make an informed decision. They are required to inform the consumer about the existence of a generic and of the price benefit. They should also discuss drug safety and effectiveness where necessary.
”The consumer’s responsibility is to know this law and to insist that health care professionals uphold it.
”Previously, the pharmacist had no legally defined right to intervene in the interests of the consumer. This is now not merely a right but a responsibility,” she said.
The minister said government’s support for generics was not a denial of the role played by research in the pharmaceutical industry, which was still needed for the advancement of medical treatment.
”[However]… We need the generics industry for mass access. Just as we would challenge the generics industry to maximise efficiency in conditions of increased competition, we have challenges for the research-based pharmaceutical giants.”
Tshabalala-Msimang said there remained a challenge of transparency and establishing a clear line between drug prices and the cost of research and development.
There was also a challenge to respond to the needs of the developing world instead of focusing on the ”lucrative malaises” of the industrial world.
”It is widely acknowledged that the burden of disease carried by the developing world cannot be managed successfully by governments of affected nations alone. This is a massive task that transcends national boundaries and transcends the divide between public and private interests. It is one thing to acknowledge this in global forums — it is quite another to practise it. We owe to future generations to make a start today,” she said.
NAPM chairman Muhammad Bodhania, said they wanted to inform the public that:
generics ensured access to quality, safe and effective medicines while reducing cost;
generics were as safe and effective as patented medicines;
generics were approved by the Medicines Control Council; and
because less money was spent on advertising, research and development, the medicines were affordable and were therefore available to more South Africans.
Bodhania said a conference including government officials, academics, doctors, pharmacists and medical aid administrators was planned for the week.
Media interviews to help inform consumers, as well as distributing leaflets answering basic questions, were also planned.
”This debate during generics week is way overdue in our country where medicine costs can be reduced by the greater use of generics. Our only saving grace in having it now and not sooner, is that it coincides with specific legislation just promulgated aimed exactly at reducing the costs of medicines to our people in South Africa,” said Bodhania. – Sapa