Measures in place to promote use of generic drugs

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
MR LEON PERERA
NON-CONSTITUENCY MP

Question No. 2548

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what measures are in place to promote the use of generic drugs in public healthcare institutions where they are assessed to be both cheaper and clinically equivalent to branded versions of the same drugs; (b) whether the Ministry tracks what proportion of the volume of all drugs prescribed are generics for those drugs where generic versions exist; and (c) if so what is that figure in each of the last five years.

Oral Answer

1        MOH works with doctors and pharmacists from public healthcare institutions to encourage the usage of suitable generic drugs. In 2017, to better guide institutions and doctors in use of generic drugs, we introduced a basket of clinically and cost-effective generic drugs which can replace the more expensive branded equivalents.

2        MOH and the Health Sciences Authority monitor new generic drugs that enter the local market and add them to the basket on a regular basis.

3        MOH and public healthcare institutions have also implemented other measures to drive use of generic drugs. These include automatic substitution at the point of drug ordering, requiring doctors to provide explanations on the usage of more expensive branded drugs where generics are available, and monitor its usage.

4        The utilisation of the generic drugs in the basket has risen over the years. By volume, the usage of the generic drugs in the basket has increased from 87% in 2013 to 99% in 2017.