On target to reach £88million savings in prescribing – McGimpsey

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey is confident that £88million can be saved in the NI prescribing budget by 2011. The savings are being made through the dispensing of generic rather than branded drugs.

Speaking during question time at the Assembly, Mr McGimpsey said: “At present almost 60% of drugs prescribed in Northern Ireland are generic. This currently amounts to £76million in efficiency savings.

“I am confident by next year I will achieve a further £12million through the use of generic rather than branded medicines. This will equate to a 50% increase in generic prescribing in Northern Ireland over the last five years.”

The Minister continued: “My Department’s policy is that generic medicines should be prescribed in preference to branded medicines in all appropriate circumstances.

“It is for Doctors in consultation with their patients to decide the most suitable treatment and to prescribe medication to support that treatment.”

Notes to editors:

1. A generic medicine is a pharmaceutical product that is no longer protected by a patent and which can be copied by other companies. It may be marketed either under its own brand or as an unbranded product.
2. Generics are considerably less expensive than the original medicine, because their manufacturers do not incur the risks and costs associated with the research and development of innovative medicines. Since generics contain well-known, safe and effective substances, pre-clinical tests and clinical trials can be replaced by simple bioequivalence studies.
3. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety introduced the “Go Generic” policy in 2006.
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