Sustaining Generic Medicines Markets in Europe

Sustaining generic medicines markets 64medicines. The generic medicines policy failed to support generic medicines consumption, apartfrom regulation governing generic substitution by pharmacists, which tends to favour theconsumption of generic medicines. Pharmacists are now financially penalised for dispensinggeneric medicines. Few incentives for physicians to prescribe generic medicines have beenimplemented. As a result, the Spanish generic medicines market tends to be a low-price, lowvolumemarket, thus hindering the economic viability of generic medicines to enter and remain onthe market.Key factors hindering the development of the generic medicines market:• Historically, the Spanish generic medicines market has been small due to the existence of adeveloped market of copies and low medicine prices• Competition created by the 2000 generic medicines policy benefited pharmacists rather thanpatients, thus inhibiting demand for generic medicines• The 2003 generic medicines policy incited companies to reduce prices of originatormedicines to RPs that are set close to marginal costs, thus limiting the profitability of anddemand for generic medicines• Few incentives exist for physicians to prescribe generic medicines• Pharmacists are financially penalised for dispensing generic medicines